Pakistan, Russia Sign MoU to Strengthen Cooperation Against Organised Crime

Pakistan and Russia signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation and information sharing against organised crime during talks between their interior ministers in Islamabad on Wednesday. Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, also agreed to strengthen collaboration against drug trafficking, cybercrime and illegal migration. The meeting took place at Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior and included delegation-level discussions on matters of mutual interest.

Alongside the memorandum, the ministers agreed to move quickly on implementing a readmission agreement. They also discussed finalising agreements covering extradition and the exchange of prisoners. These arrangements formed part of the meeting’s wider agenda on law enforcement cooperation, with information sharing and coordination between the two countries’ institutions featuring prominently in the discussions.

The delegations agreed to expand cooperation between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force and the relevant Russian agencies. Working groups from both interior ministries are expected to make reciprocal visits to discuss how bilateral cooperation can be strengthened. Those visits are the identified follow-up mechanism for further discussions between officials responsible for carrying forward the areas covered during the ministerial meeting.

Cybercrime prevention was another priority. Naqvi said Pakistan wanted to draw on Russia’s experience in tackling online crime. Kolokoltsev told the delegation that Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33 percent, presenting the figure as part of his account of the country’s experience. The Russian minister also emphasised the need for joint action against terrorism, drug smuggling, illegal migration and other forms of organised crime.

Both sides agreed to strengthen links between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and Russia’s police academy. Institutional coordination and the exchange of law enforcement experience were discussed alongside the proposed agreements. Pakistan’s delegation included senior officials from investigative, policing, forensic and cybercrime bodies, bringing representatives of several relevant institutions into the talks on expanded cooperation.

The meeting also addressed opportunities to send skilled Pakistani workers to Russia. The ministers discussed facilitating visa procedures for tourists and business travellers. Naqvi said easier visa processes would help increase contact between the people of both countries. Labour mobility and travel facilitation therefore featured alongside the security agenda in the delegation-level discussions.

Education was also raised during the talks. Naqvi said approximately 1,300 Pakistani students were studying in Russia and expressed interest in increasing that number. He described the agreement against organised crime as a significant development in bilateral cooperation. His remarks covered both the law enforcement partnership and opportunities for closer educational and people-to-people engagement.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry and the Russian ambassador to Pakistan attended the meeting. Other participants included senior Interior Ministry officials and representatives of the Federal Investigation Agency, National Police Academy, Frontier Corps, National Forensic Agency and National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency. Passport authorities and Islamabad’s administrative and police leadership were also represented.