Bishkek: Pakistan and several Central Asian states, along with Russia, have agreed to deepen cooperation on counterterrorism, illegal immigration, and narcotics control during a series of high-level meetings held on the sidelines of a regional conference of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) interior and public security ministers.
According to Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held bilateral meetings with his counterparts from Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, focusing on regional security challenges and law enforcement coordination, particularly in relation to Afghanistan.
During talks with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, both sides signed agreements to enhance cooperation in curbing illegal immigration, facilitating repatriation processes, and strengthening joint efforts against drug trafficking.
In a meeting with Tajik Interior Minister Ramazon Rahimzoda, discussions centered on security threats originating from Afghanistan, including the alleged presence of terrorist camps and the expansion of narcotics production networks.
Naqvi also met Uzbek Interior Minister Aziz Tashpulatov, where the two sides agreed to expand cooperation between law enforcement agencies and increase joint training programmes.
In separate discussions with Kyrgyz Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov, both sides agreed to enhance collaboration in areas of mutual security interest. Naqvi also congratulated Kyrgyzstan on its election as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council.
Meanwhile, during a meeting with Kazakhstan’s Interior Minister Yerzhan Sadenov, both countries agreed to strengthen coordination against illegal immigration and decided to establish a joint working group between their interior ministries to improve bilateral cooperation.
The meetings collectively underscored growing regional alignment on border security, counterterrorism coordination, and transnational crime prevention within the SCO framework.