New York, July 8, 2026(Kamran Raja): Federal Interior Minister and Minister for Narcotics Control Mohsin Naqvi held separate high-level meetings with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Alexandrovich Kolokoltsev, Chinese Minister of State for Public Security and Head of the Special Service Bureau Ling Zhifeng, and Sri Lankan Interior Minister Ananda Wijepala on the sidelines of meetings at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
During the Pakistan-Russia meeting, both Interior Ministers reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations and reviewed progress on decisions taken during their previous meeting. The two sides held detailed discussions on the prevailing regional security situation and explored avenues for enhancing cooperation in counter-narcotics, counter-terrorism, cybercrime, and joint police training exercises. They also discussed developing a coordinated strategy to counter terrorist networks operating in the region, particularly in Afghanistan.
The two Ministers agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between their respective Interior Ministries to institutionalize bilateral cooperation. Minister Mohsin Naqvi also extended an invitation to his Russian counterpart to visit Pakistan.
Speaking during the meeting, Mohsin Naqvi emphasized that more than 25 terrorist organizations are currently operating in Afghanistan, describing their elimination as a shared international responsibility. He stressed that the fight against terrorism requires collective action and closer regional cooperation.
In a separate meeting with Chinese Minister of State for Public Security Ling Zhifeng, both sides reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen the Pakistan-China strategic partnership, particularly in the field of counter-terrorism and internal security.
The two Ministers agreed to expand cooperation in border management, combating irregular migration, and counter-narcotics. Mohsin Naqvi underscored the urgent need to eliminate terrorist financing at every level, stating that countries involved in sponsoring and financing terrorism must be confronted through coordinated international efforts. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further enhancing security cooperation with China.
The Interior Minister highlighted the establishment of Pakistan’s Special Protection Police Force to ensure the safety and security of Chinese nationals working and residing in the country. He also stressed that stronger people-to-people contacts are vital for deepening bilateral ties and called for greater facilitation under the visa regime.
The Chinese Minister praised Pakistan’s immense sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism and emphasized the importance of continued cooperation between the two countries to combat evolving security challenges. He also assured that visa and immigration-related matters would be reviewed.
During his meeting with Sri Lankan Interior Minister Ananda Wijepala, Mohsin Naqvi discussed measures to strengthen bilateral cooperation in counter-narcotics, police training, and immigration management. Both sides agreed to enhance coordination to prevent irregular migration and the use of forged passports for international travel. They decided that the heads of immigration authorities of both countries would establish immediate contact to implement agreed measures.
The two Ministers also discussed finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding aimed at combating transnational criminal networks and money laundering. They agreed to establish a Joint Working Group to strengthen institutional cooperation between their Interior Ministries and resolved to address visa-related issues on a priority basis.
The meetings reflected Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening international partnerships in combating terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, narcotics trafficking, and other transnational security challenges through enhanced cooperation with friendly countries.