Pakistan and the United Kingdom have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation to combat terrorism, drug trafficking, cybercrime, illegal immigration and visa fraud, with both countries committing to stronger coordination between law enforcement agencies.
The agreement was reached during the visit of British Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis to Pakistan. Both sides expressed their commitment to improving intelligence sharing, strengthening institutional links and developing joint measures to tackle serious cross-border crime.
Dan Jarvis Holds Meetings With Senior Pakistani Officials
During his visit, British Security Minister Dan Jarvis met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and other senior Pakistani officials.
Discussions focused on regional security, the situation in Afghanistan, counterterrorism efforts and a coordinated strategy against serious organised crime.
Pakistan and UK Agree to Strengthen Security Cooperation
A delegation-level meeting at Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior was also attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry.
Both countries agreed to enhance cooperation in several areas, including counterterrorism, anti-narcotics operations, cybercrime, immigration, NADRA, the Coast Guards and professional training for relevant institutions.
Participants emphasized that timely intelligence sharing and stronger coordination between law enforcement agencies are essential to tackling cross-border threats such as terrorism, organised crime, illegal immigration and visa fraud.
British Minister Praises FIA’s Performance
Dan Jarvis praised the performance of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in efforts to prevent illegal immigration.
He said cybercrime had become a global challenge and required coordinated international efforts to address effectively.
Jarvis noted that Pakistan and the United Kingdom faced common security threats and that closer cooperation could help make both countries safer.
He also acknowledged Pakistan’s sacrifices and efforts in the fight against terrorism and expressed his desire to further expand the existing security partnership between the two countries.
NCA and ANF to Strengthen Cooperation Against Drug Trafficking
During the meeting, both sides agreed to finalise a memorandum of understanding on counter-narcotics cooperation at the earliest.
The proposed agreement is expected to strengthen formal collaboration between the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), helping improve joint efforts against international drug trafficking networks.
Pakistan Foils 330 Drug Smuggling Cases Destined for the UK
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi told the meeting that 330 cases involving attempts to smuggle drugs into the United Kingdom had been foiled over the past several years.
He stressed that close cooperation between the relevant agencies of both countries was essential to eliminating international drug trafficking.
Joint Working Group Meeting to Be Held Soon
Pakistan and the United Kingdom also agreed to convene a meeting of the Joint Working Group established between their respective interior ministries.
Naqvi appreciated progress under the Upskill initiative, saying the programme was playing an important role in improving the capabilities of Pakistani institutions and helping them meet modern professional requirements.
Senior Officials From Both Countries Attend Talks
The meeting was attended by British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and other British officials.
Representing Pakistan were the Federal Secretary of Interior, Special Secretary and Additional Secretaries of Interior, Chairman NADRA, Director General FIA, Director General ANF, Inspector General of the Federal Constabulary, Director General of the National Forensic Agency, Commandant of the National Police Academy, Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, Director General of Passports, Chairperson of the Social Media Regulatory Authority, Chief Commissioner and Inspector General of Islamabad Police.
The discussions during Jarvis’s visit are being viewed as an important step towards giving fresh momentum to Pakistan–UK cooperation in security, law enforcement and the prevention of cross-border criminal activities.
