UN Chief commends Pakistan's peace role as Naqvi seeks global security cooperation

NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday lauded Pakistan's efforts to promote regional and international peace during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on the sidelines of the United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS-2026) at UN Headquarters.

Naqvi, who is representing Pakistan at the two-day summit, discussed Pakistan's mediation efforts and its longstanding contributions to global peace with the UN chief. According to state-run PTV, Guterres praised Pakistan's commitment to peace and regional stability.

The summit has brought together interior ministers, police chiefs and senior UN officials from across the world to strengthen international cooperation against terrorism, organised crime and other transnational security threats.

On the diplomatic sidelines, Naqvi held a series of bilateral meetings, including talks with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev, during which both sides agreed to deepen cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cybercrime and police training.

The two ministers also discussed a coordinated strategy to tackle terrorist networks operating in the region, particularly in Afghanistan, and agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding between their interior ministries to expand security cooperation. Naqvi invited his Russian counterpart to visit Pakistan.

Highlighting regional security concerns, the interior minister said more than 25 terrorist organisations were operating from Afghanistan and stressed that eliminating them was a shared international responsibility requiring coordinated action.

Earlier, Naqvi also met China's Minister of State for Public Security Ling Zhifeng and Sri Lankan Interior Minister Ananda Wijepala to discuss bilateral security cooperation.

Addressing the UN Chiefs of Police Summit, Naqvi urged the international community to forge closer partnerships to confront transnational threats, including terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering.

"The world faces common security challenges that do not stop at national borders," he said, emphasising that no country could tackle these threats alone.

Calling for stronger collaboration among law enforcement agencies, Naqvi advocated greater intelligence sharing, mutual trust and the adoption of advanced technologies to counter increasingly sophisticated criminal networks.

He also stressed the need to equip police forces with modern skills and technological expertise, urging UN member states to share best practices and innovative policing strategies to strengthen global peace and security.