Pakistan and Russia Agree to Joint Strategy Against Afghan Terrorists

Key Takeaways

Pakistan and Russia agreed to develop a joint strategy against terrorist networks in Afghanistan.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met with Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev during the UNCOPS-2026 summit.
Both countries discussed enhancing cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cybercrime, and law-enforcement training.

Pakistan and Russia have agreed to develop a joint strategy against terrorist networks operating in Afghanistan, according to statements from the interior ministries of both nations. This decision was made during talks between Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Kolokoltsev, held on the sidelines of the fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS-2026).

During their discussions, the two ministers reviewed regional security concerns and explored ways to enhance cooperation in areas such as counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cybercrime, and law-enforcement training. They also discussed the possibility of conducting joint police exercises and developing coordinated approaches against terrorist networks.

Naqvi highlighted that more than 25 terrorist organizations are active in Afghanistan, emphasizing the need for collective efforts to eliminate extremist groups. He invited his Russian counterpart to visit Pakistan, underscoring the importance of continued cooperation between the two nations.

The meeting also reviewed progress on decisions taken during their previous talks and reaffirmed the commitment to strengthening security cooperation, including counterterrorism, border management, combating irregular migration, and counter-narcotics efforts.

Naqvi called for greater international cooperation to tackle transnational security threats at the UN Chiefs of Police Summit. He stated that 'the world faces common security challenges' that do not stop at national borders, listing terrorism, organized crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking, human smuggling, and money laundering as key issues.

He emphasized that no country can deal with these threats alone and urged countries to strengthen coordination among their law-enforcement agencies. Naqvi stressed the importance of working together, trusting each other, sharing information quickly, supporting one another, and building stronger partnerships between police forces.

During his address, Naqvi also highlighted the need for police forces to adapt to technological changes, warning that criminals are using new technologies to commit crimes. He called for improved skills among police officers through enhanced training and the use of modern technology to prevent criminal activities.