ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Russia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Albert P. Khorev, on Tuesday in Islamabad, where both sides agreed to activate the counter-terrorism dialogue between the two countries.
According to a statement issued by the interior ministry issues of mutual interest and promotion of bilateral ties were discussed in detail during the meeting.
They agreed on enhancing mutual cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics and activating the anti-terrorism dialogue between the two countries.
“We will promote bilateral contacts to further strengthen relations with Russia,” the statement quoted Naqvi as saying. He noted that there were vast opportunities to expand cooperation between the countries in various areas.
Pakistan and Russia witnessed a couple of bilateral exchanges last year, including Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin’s visit to Pakistan in October for the 23rd summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).
Ambassador Khorev also invited Pakistani officers to attend anti-narcotics training programmes in Moscow and Siberia.
وفاقی وزیرداخلہ محسن نقوی سے روس کے سفیر البرٹ پی خوریف کی ملاقات
باہمی دلچسپی کے امور اور دوطرفہ تعلقات کے فروغ کے حوالے سے تبادلہ خیال انسداد دہشتگردی و انسداد منشیات کے سلسلے میں باہمی تعاون بڑھانے پر بات چیت
دونوں ممالک کے درمیان انسداد دہشت گردی ڈائیلاگ کو فعال کرنے پر اتفاق pic.twitter.com/jl2lzU9EG0— Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) February 25, 2025
They further agreed to “maximise the bilateral exchange of delegations, the ministry said.
During Prime Minister Mishustin’s visit to Pakistan in October 2024, his counterpart, Shehbaz Sharif, expressed gratitude to Russia for supporting Pakistan’s bid to join BRICS, the prominent Global South bloc. This move marked a step toward stronger collaboration on the global stage.
The two leaders agreed to enhance dialogue and cooperation in several key areas, including trade, industry, energy, connectivity, science, technology, and education.
In the realm of defence, Pakistan and Russia conducted a joint military exercise in October 2024, named Druzhba (Friendship) VII. Both countries pledged to further strengthen their security cooperation during subsequent high-level talks.
Earlier in the same month, agricultural companies from both nations signed barter agreements to exchange Russian chickpeas and lentils for Pakistani rice, mandarins, and potatoes.
The deal came days after the deputy prime ministers of both countries met in Islamabad, where they held delegation-level talks. Deputy PM Alexei Overchuk also met with Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir to discuss defence cooperation.
Pakistan and Russia also signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Railways sector during the 27th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in June 2024.
