Pakistan and Russia are moving to strengthen security cooperation, with both countries agreeing to advance an extradition agreement and expand joint efforts against crime. The understanding emerged during talks between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The discussions covered several areas, including organised crime, terrorism, extremism, drug trafficking and cybercrime. Both sides also agreed to finalise a draft agreement on the extradition of criminals and improve coordination between their anti-narcotics agencies.
Pakistan and Russia to Finalise Extradition Agreement
During the meeting, Kolokoltsev highlighted the importance of law enforcement cooperation between Pakistan and Russia. He described the partnership as part of the countries’ friendly, constructive and mutually beneficial relations.
Both governments agreed to complete work on the proposed extradition agreement. Furthermore, delegations from Pakistan and Russia will visit each other’s countries to advance cooperation and discuss relevant matters.
Naqvi said the agreement on preventing organised crime would mark an important step towards closer collaboration. The two sides also discussed strengthening cooperation against international criminal networks and the illegal trafficking of weapons and drugs.
Cybercrime and Anti-Narcotics Cooperation in Focus
Cybercrime emerged as another major priority during the talks, with Pakistan expressing interest in learning from Russia’s experience in tackling digital offences. Discussions covered telephone scams, phishing and cryptocurrency pyramid schemes.
The Russian interior minister stressed the need for faster information sharing and closer coordination through Interpol. He also highlighted the importance of exchanging expertise to improve cybercrime investigations.
According to Kolokoltsev, Russia had recorded a 33% decrease in cybercrimes. However, the meeting’s broader focus remained on sharing knowledge and strengthening cooperation between the two countries’ law enforcement agencies.
Both sides also agreed to improve collaboration between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and the Russian Police Academy. In addition, Russia expressed its readiness to expand professional training and development programmes for Pakistani specialists.
Visa Facilitation and Educational Links Discussed
The talks also addressed people-to-people relations and educational exchanges. Kolokoltsev noted that approximately 1,300 Pakistani students were studying in Russia.
Pakistan, meanwhile, expressed interest in increasing the number of students pursuing education there. Naqvi also said that easing visa procedures could strengthen contacts and improve relations between the two countries.
The discussions further touched on international law enforcement cooperation. Kolokoltsev said Russia considered Pakistan an important partner in opposing the politicisation of such cooperation, including within the United Nations.
Senior Officials Attend Islamabad Meeting
Several senior Pakistani officials and Russian representatives attended the meeting. The Pakistani delegation included Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), and the commandant of the National Police Academy.
The Inspector General of the Frontier Corps, the director general of the National Forensic Agency, the director general of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), and the director general of passports also attended. Other participants included the Russian envoy to Pakistan, the interior ministry’s special and additional secretaries, and the chief commissioner.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Kolokoltsev thanked Naqvi for the constructive discussions and reaffirmed Russia’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies. The proposed extradition agreement and expanded collaboration on narcotics, cybercrime and professional training now form key areas of the bilateral security agenda.
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