Russia and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to move towards finalising an extradition treaty and expand cooperation on organised crime, cybercrime and drug smuggling during Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev’s visit to Islamabad Russia and Pakistan on Wednesday agreed to move towards finalising an extradition treaty and expand cooperation on organised crime, cybercrime and drug smuggling during Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev’s visit to Islamabad.The agreements were discussed during meetings between Kolokoltsev and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Wednesday.According to a report by Pakistani media outlet Dawn, the two sides also discussed information-sharing, illegal migration, visa procedures and the possibility of sending skilled Pakistani workers to Russia.The visit comes as Moscow and Islamabad seek to broaden their bilateral engagement beyond energy and trade to include law enforcement and security cooperation.
Extradition treaty, organised crime on agendaAccording to Pakistan’s interior ministry, both sides agreed to finalise an extradition treaty and work towards an agreement on the exchange of information and criminals. They also committed to implementing an existing readmission agreement at the earliest.Naqvi described a proposed memorandum of understanding on preventing organised crime as an important step in bilateral cooperation.The two countries also agreed to strengthen coordination between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force and relevant Russian agencies. Working groups from the interior ministries are expected to visit each other’s countries to take forward the discussions.More from WorldThe talks covered cooperation between the National Police Academy and the Russian Police Academy to prevent cybercrime.Naqvi said Pakistan wanted to draw on Russia’s experience in tackling online offences and expressed hope that easier visa procedures would encourage tourism and business exchanges.He also said around 1,300 Pakistani students were studying in Russia and that Islamabad wanted more students to pursue their education there.Kolokoltsev said joint efforts were necessary to tackle organised crime, including terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration. He also cited measures taken by Russia to reduce cybercrime, claiming they had resulted in a 33 per cent decline.
Russian minister meets Pakistan’s army chiefEarlier on Wednesday, Kolokoltsev met Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi.According to a statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the discussions covered matters of mutual interest and the regional security situation, with both sides emphasising stronger security cooperation and closer institutional links.The Russian minister arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a four-day visit at the invitation of Naqvi. It is the first visit to Pakistan by a Russian interior minister.Russia and Pakistan have expanded their engagement in recent years, particularly in energy and economic cooperation.Pakistan began importing Russian crude oil in 2023 as Islamabad sought to diversify its energy supplies and reduce fuel costs. Russia, meanwhile, has looked for new markets and economic partners following Western sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine.
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