Pakistan, Russia agree to sign MoU to combat organised crime, finalise prisoner transfer agreement

Pakistan and Russia on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen cooperation in combatting organised crime during Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev’s visit to Pakistan.

The MoU was signed after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met Kolokoltsev, who arrived in Pakistan earlier this week on a four-day visit, marking the first instance of a Russian interior minister visiting Pakistan.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office, the premier expressed satisfaction over the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations and emphasised the importance of building on it to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its friendly relations with the Russian Federation and making effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.

PM Shehbaz also underscored the need to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, particularly trade and investment, energy and economic development.

The Russian interior minister conveyed Russia’s desire to further strengthen bilateral ties and expand cooperation in areas of shared interest.

While appreciating Pakistan’s support at various multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations, Kolokoltsev highlighted the significant potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.

He expressed Russia’s readiness to work closely with Pakistan to further enhance bilateral engagement.

Later, the prime minister witnessed the signing of the MoU on strengthening cooperation in combating organised crime.

Both countries agreed to sign the MoU earlier today while also deciding to finalise agreements on extradition and the transfer of prisoners.

The decisions were taken during a meeting between Interior Minister Naqvi and Kolokoltsev at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad, followed by delegation-level talks on areas of mutual interest. The Russian minister arrived in Pakistan on Monday on a maiden four-day visit at the invitation of Naqvi.

According to a statement issued by the interior ministry, during the meeting, both sides agreed to ensure the swift implementation of the readmission agreement and strengthen bilateral cooperation to combat organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking and illegal migration.

“The two countries agreed to enhance coordination between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) and relevant Russian agencies to curb drug trafficking. Furthermore, working groups from the interior ministries of both countries will also visit each other soon to explore further avenues for cooperation,” it said.

The statement added that the two countries also agreed to strengthen institutional links between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and its Russian counterpart to promote the exchange of expertise and improve law enforcement capabilities.

Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi described the proposed agreement on preventing organised crime as an important milestone in strengthening cooperation between the two countries.

He added that Pakistan wished to benefit from Russia’s experience in combatting cybercrime.

During the talks, Kolokoltsev informed the meeting that Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33% through effective measures, highlighting the importance of sharing experience and strengthening cooperation in the field.

He also stressed the importance of joint measures to prevent all forms of organised crime, including terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration.

Read: Zardari calls for stronger Pak-Russia ties

The discussions culminated in both sides underscoring the commitment of both countries to expand bilateral engagement through formal agreements, information sharing, institutional coordination and cooperation among law enforcement agencies.

The talks also covered measures to facilitate the dispatch of skilled Pakistani workers to Russia, ease visa procedures for tourists and businesspeople, and expand cooperation in tackling cybercrime, the statement outlined.

Naqvi said easing visa procedures would promote people-to-people contact and further bilateral ties.

The interior minister noted that around 1,300 Pakistani students were currently studying in Russia and expressed the desire to see more Pakistani students pursue higher education there.

Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, senior officials of the Ministry of Interior, the director general of the Federal Investigation Agency, the commandant of the National Police Academy, the inspector general of the Frontier Corps, and heads of relevant law enforcement, cybercrime, forensic and passport authorities were also present at the meeting.

Among the city’s administrative and law enforcement authorities, the chief commissioner of Islamabad, the inspector general of Islamabad Police and other senior officials attended the talks.