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Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Friday reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the "Shanghai spirit" and called for a joint strategy among Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) member states to counter terrorism, organised crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime and terror financing, as reported by Dawn.

Speaking at a special meeting of the Ministers of Interior and Public Security of the SCO in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, Naqvi said the region faced "serious and complex security challenges" that were interconnected. He noted that criminal and terrorist networks were rapidly adapting to technological advancements, exploiting artificial intelligence, digital platforms, online networks and cryptocurrency transactions to expand their activities.

Coverage comparison

Dawn reported Naqvi's address in detail, highlighting his call for a comprehensive regional strategy to tackle transnational crime and emerging security risks. The minister emphasised the importance of modernising institutional coordination and enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms across the region, saying shared threats demanded shared solutions.

In a separate report, Dawn covered the bilateral meetings Naqvi held on the sidelines of the SCO meeting. According to the interior ministry, Naqvi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, signed agreements to enhance cooperation in preventing illegal immigration and drug trafficking. The agreements also aim to facilitate the repatriation of citizens and strengthen collaboration in combating narcotics.

Naqvi also held separate meetings with his counterparts from Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, the ministry said.

Key claims

  • Naqvi reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to the "Shanghai spirit," stating: "Pakistan fully adheres to the principles of the Shanghai Spirit, which is based on mutual trust, equality, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty."
  • Pakistan has rendered "unparalleled sacrifices" against terrorism and continues to strengthen its security architecture to address evolving threats, Naqvi said.
  • Under the National Action Plan, Pakistan has strengthened intelligence coordination, border management and anti-money laundering measures, according to Naqvi. "These initiatives have significantly strengthened the country's capacity to combat terrorism and organised crime," he said.
  • Naqvi called for more effective cooperation under the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) for intelligence sharing, joint threat analysis and countering online radicalisation and extremist propaganda.
  • During his meeting with Tajikistan's Interior Minister Rahimzoda Ramazon Hamro, the discussions focused on terrorist camps inside Afghanistan. Both ministers agreed that terrorist camps and narcotics production in Afghanistan pose serious security concerns for the region, and noted that 25 terrorist organisations were currently active in Afghanistan, the ministry said.
  • With Uzbekistan's Interior Minister Aziz Tashpulato, the discussion centred on cooperation between law enforcement agencies and joint training initiatives, with a decision to establish a working group to enhance cooperation between the interior ministries, the ministry said.
  • Naqvi and Kyrgyzstan's Interior Minister Ulan Niyazbekov agreed to expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest. Naqvi congratulated Kyrgyzstan on being elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and thanked it for the arrangements for the SCO meeting.
  • Naqvi met his Kazakh counterpart Yerzhan Sadenov, and the two ministers agreed to enhance cooperation, the ministry said.