Pakistan, Iran Agree to Expand Security and Border Cooperation

Pakistan and Iran moved to reinforce bilateral coordination on Wednesday as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni in Islamabad during the visiting minister’s official trip. The meeting focused on security, border management, trade links and wider regional developments at a time of heightened instability in the Middle East.

Momeni was received at the Ministry of Interior, where a Federal Constabulary contingent presented a guard of honour before formal engagements began. According to details shared by Pakistani officials, the two ministers first held direct talks and later led delegation-level discussions involving senior officials from both sides.

The talks covered a broad range of shared priorities, including counter-terrorism cooperation, action against narcotics trafficking, curbs on illegal immigration and joint efforts to combat human smuggling. Both governments also discussed ways to strengthen institutional coordination so that security agencies on each side can respond more effectively to cross-border threats.

Officials said Naqvi conveyed Pakistan’s willingness to deepen cooperation with Iran across all fields. He also appreciated the diplomatic efforts of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Momeni, saying their role in pursuing peace had been significant during a period of regional pressure.

The meeting also placed particular emphasis on threats linked to the Afghan border, with both sides agreeing that terrorism and drug smuggling require coordinated and sustained action. For Pakistan, the issue has grown more urgent because instability along western routes affects internal security, border communities, law enforcement resources and regional trade corridors.

Momeni’s Islamabad engagement followed his earlier meetings with Pakistan’s top civil and military leadership. He met Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, where regional security, bilateral matters and border management were discussed.

The Iranian minister also called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who expressed concern over the escalating situation in the Middle East and reiterated that Pakistan was ready to play a constructive role as a sincere mediator and facilitator. Islamabad has continued to stress de-escalation, restraint and dialogue as tensions involving Iran and the United States remain a major diplomatic concern.

The visit is significant because Pakistan and Iran share a long border, close cultural and religious connections, and recurring security challenges. Cooperation between the two neighbours often becomes critical when militancy, smuggling networks, refugee movement or regional conflict threatens stability on either side of the frontier.

For Pakistan, stronger engagement with Tehran could help improve border policing, reduce trafficking networks, support trade routes and strengthen regional diplomacy. The discussions may also influence Islamabad’s broader effort to remain relevant in peace initiatives linked to Iran and the wider Gulf region.

Both sides are expected to continue follow-up contacts through their relevant ministries and security institutions. The next steps will likely focus on translating the high-level pledges into operational coordination, stronger border mechanisms and continued diplomatic engagement as regional conditions evolve.