ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to expand cooperation in counterterrorism, cybersecurity, immigration and border security, as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi vowed to continue efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East.
The decisionwasreached duringadetailed meeting in Islamabad between Naqvi and his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni. The two leaders held extensive discussions on bilateral ties and the latest security situation in the region following recent diplomatic breakthroughs.
Key areas identified for enhanced collaboration included security, counterterrorism, cybersecurity and immigration management.
Islamabad and Tehran share a long, porous border and frequently face common challenges of cross-border militancy, drug trafficking and illegal migration, making interior ministry-level cooperation an urgent pri-ority for both countries.
Several senior Pakistani officials also attended the meeting, including Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry, the interior secretary, Federal Investigation Agency Director General Usman Anwar, the commandant of the National Police Academy and the director general of the National CyberCrimes Investigation Agency.
The meeting comes just days after the US and Iran reached a joint statement during high-level talks at Burgenstock, Switzerland, aimed at reducing regional tensions.
Pakistan acted as a key facilitator in the dialogue, leading to the signing of an ‘IslamabadMemorandumofUnderstanding’ to end the Middle East conflict.
Both ministers expressed their mutual satisfaction over the de-escalation of tensions in the region following the truce. Mr Naqvi officially congratulated Mr Momeni on the joint statement issued after the Burgenstock talks, calling it a vital breakthrough for regional stability. ‘This agreement would not have been possible without your and the Iranian government’s sincere efforts,’ Mr Naqvi said.
‘Pakistan has always desired peace and stability across the world. We will continue our efforts for lasting peace in the Middle East.
Mr Naqvi added that he hopes the historic peace agreement will have far-reaching, positive resultsforthe entire region.
In response, Mr Momeni thanked Pakistan for its ‘sincere role’ in facilitating the US-Iran negotiations. ‘I will conduct a detailed visit to Pakistan soon to extend cooperation between the interior ministries of the two countries,’ he said.