Pakistan, Iran agree to strengthen cooperation on counter-terrorism and border security

Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, prevention of illegal immigration and combating human trafficking as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held talks with his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni in Islamabad.

Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday with a high-level delegation amid fresh tensions in the Middle East. The visit came amid heightened regional tensions after the US and Iran exchanged strikes, with Washington targeting sites in Iran and Tehran’s forces retaliating against US military assets in the region.

The US and Iran signed a Pakistan-mediated memorandum of understanding last month to end their conflict and reach a lasting peace deal, but tensions have escalated again.

Naqvi warmly received Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni on his arrival at the airport, where a smart contingent of the Federal Constabulary presented him with a guard of honour.

According to the state-run Radio Pakistanthe two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, prevention of illegal immigration and human trafficking.

During the meeting, both ministers stressed the need to adopt a joint strategy to prevent terrorism and drug trafficking along the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran region, with special emphasis on countering threats from the Afghan border.

Read: Prime Minister Shehbaz calls on the US and Iran to show restraint in the meeting with the Iranian minister

The two ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthen bilateral relations, strengthen mutual trade and improve coordination mechanisms to expand cooperation between the two neighboring countries.

On this occasion, Naqvi said that Pakistan was ready to expand cooperation with Iran in all sectors.

He also appreciated the efforts of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, saying they had made “extraordinary efforts for peace.” Naqvi expressed hope that “good news will emerge and peace will prevail.”

According to the Ministry of Interior, the Iranian delegation included the Governor General of Sistan-Baluchestan, Iran’s Deputy Minister of Interior, Deputy Minister of Urban Development and Transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company, the Special Representative of Iran’s Minister of Agriculture and other senior officials.

Foreign Minister also attended the meeting of Interior Minister Talal Chaudhry, Federal Home Secretary, NADRA Chairman, Director General of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Director General of Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Inspector General of Federal Constabulary, Director General of National Cyber ​​Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Director General of Capital Development, Authority of Capital. (CDA), Inspector General of Police Islamabad and Additional Secretaries of the Ministry of Interior.

According to Anatoliareferring to Iran’s state broadcaster IRIBis visiting Momeni Pakistan at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to promote bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad. The Iranian government said in a statement on X that the visit was aimed at increasing border security and bilateral cooperation in transit and agriculture and was in line with the goal of increasing trade from $3 billion. to $10 billion.

“After his visit to Pakistan, Momeni will travel to New Delhi, India, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart, to attend the BRICS meeting of ministers on disaster management, focusing on disaster risk reduction,” it said.

Conflicts escalate

US forces struck Iran for a ninth straight day on Monday as concerns grew over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran said two oil tankers had exploded and been immobilized.

In a statement, US Central Command said it had begun “a new wave of attacks” aimed at “degrading” Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping in the strait’s vital shipping lanes. It gave no further details.

The attacks are part of an escalating cycle of attacks between the United States and Iran after a tentative ceasefire agreement signed a month ago unraveled, deepening a battle for control of the Strait of Hormuz that has disrupted energy supplies and raised fears of global inflation.

A joint de-escalation proposal by Pakistan and Qatar had urged the US and Iran to return to their pre-July 9 positions “as a first step” to resume stalled talks to permanently end their months-long war, Pakistani government sources said. Anatolia.