Pakistan, UK agree to expand cooperation on security, migration and law enforcement

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Kingdom on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, expanding cooperation in security and law enforcement, and jointly addressing migration-related challenges during a high-level meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and British Deputy Foreign Secretary Hamish Falconer.

The meeting reviewed Pakistan-UK relations and the broader regional situation, with both sides exchanging views on matters of mutual interest, including counter-terrorism, illegal migration, institutional cooperation and police training.

According to an official statement, the two countries agreed to further enhance collaboration in a range of sectors aimed at improving security, strengthening institutions and promoting mutual interests.

During the talks, Hamish Falconer praised Pakistan’s constructive and proactive role in facilitating understanding between the United States and Iran, describing Islamabad’s contribution as an important step towards regional and global peace.

He commended Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for what he termed a historic role in promoting peace and stability, noting that Pakistan’s efforts to help ease tensions between Washington and Tehran had reinforced its image as a responsible advocate of peace on the international stage.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi highlighted the achievements of the Upskill Project, saying the initiative had yielded encouraging results and significantly enhanced the capacity and professional standards of Pakistani institutions.

He said the government remained committed to strengthening institutional capabilities through international cooperation and strategic partnerships.

The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts, law-enforcement training programmes, institutional development and measures to curb illegal migration.

Special attention was also given to the issue of fraudulent student visas, which both countries identified as a growing concern requiring coordinated action.

Naqvi underscored Pakistan’s determination to combat illegal migration and human trafficking, stating that indiscriminate action was being taken against criminal networks involved in exploiting vulnerable individuals.

“Pakistan is pursuing a comprehensive crackdown on illegal migration networks and human traffickers,” he said.

Discussing regional security challenges, the interior minister expressed concern over the presence of terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory and stressed that the Afghan authorities must ensure their soil was not used for activities directed against Pakistan.

Reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to stronger ties with London, Naqvi said Pakistan highly valued its longstanding partnership with the United Kingdom and was keen to further deepen cooperation across multiple sectors for the mutual benefit of both countries.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Talal Chaudhry and Aoun Chaudhry, Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, as well as senior officials from the Federal Investigation Agency and other law-enforcement institutions.