Pakistan, Russia agree to deepen counter-terrorism engagement

Pakistan and Russia have agreed to activate a counter-terrorism dialogue, strengthening security cooperation between the two nations, the interior ministry announced on Tuesday.

The agreement was reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Russian Ambassador Albert P Khorev in Islamabad. The two officials also discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest, the ministry said in a statement.

Both sides decided to enhance collaboration in counter-terrorism and anti-narcotics efforts, while also increasing delegation exchanges to strengthen ties. The Russian envoy invited Pakistani officials to participate in anti-narcotics training programmes in Moscow and Siberia.

Naqvi stressed that terrorism is a global challenge, requiring collective efforts to combat. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to bolstering ties with Russia, highlighting opportunities for cooperation across various sectors.

Last year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had met Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin in Islamabad on the sidelines of the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit.

During that meeting, both leaders had discussed political, economic, and defence cooperation, with Shehbaz reaffirming Pakistan’s interest in strengthening ties with Russia. He also expressed appreciation for Moscow’s support for Pakistan’s BRICS membership bid.

The two prime ministers agreed to maintain close cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including linguistic exchanges and enhanced banking sector collaboration to facilitate trade and investment.