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

Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, preventing 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 along with a high-level delegation amid fresh tensions in the Middle East. The visit came amid heightened regional tensions after the United States and Iran exchanged strikes, with Washington targeting locations in Iran and Tehran’s forces responding against US military assets in the region.

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

Naqvi warmly received Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni upon his arrival at the airport, where a smartly turned-out contingent of the Federal Constabulary presented him with a guard of honour.

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

During the meeting, both ministers underscored the need for adopting a joint strategy to prevent terrorism and drug trafficking along the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran region, with particular emphasis on addressing threats emanating from the Afghan border.

Read: PM Shehbaz urges US, Iran to exercise restraint in meeting with Iranian minister

The two ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing mutual trade and improving coordination mechanisms to expand cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said 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 “exceptional 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 interior minister, deputy minister for urban development and transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company, the special representative of Iran’s agriculture minister and other senior officials.

Minister of State also attended the meeting for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Federal Interior Secretary, NADRA Chairman, Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Director General of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Inspector General of the Federal Constabulary, Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Director General of Immigration and Passports, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Inspector General of Islamabad Police and additional secretaries of the Ministry of Interior.

According to Anadolu, citing Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Momeni is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to advance bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad. The Iranian government, in a post on X, stated that the visit aimed to boost border security and bilateral cooperation in transit and agriculture and aligned with the goal to increase trade from $3b to $10b.

“Following his Pakistan visit, Momeni will travel to New Delhi, India, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart to attend the BRICS Meeting of Ministers for Disaster Management, focusing on disaster risk reduction,” it stated.

Conflict escalates

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

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

The strikes are part of an escalating cycle of attacks between the US and Iran after an interim ceasefire agreement signed a month ago unravelled, deepening a struggle for control over the Strait of Hormuz that has disrupted energy supplies and stoked fears of global inflation.

A joint de-escalation proposal by Pakistan and Qatar had urged the United States 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 told Anadolu.