UK and Pakistan Strengthen Counter-Terrorism and Narcotics Ties
UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis and Pakistani officials agreed to expand cooperation on counter-terrorism, narcotics smuggling, and illegal migration during an official visit to Islamabad.
British Minister for Security Dan Jarvis conducted his first official visit to Pakistan to deepen bilateral security partnerships and disrupt criminal networks. During meetings in Islamabad with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, Jarvis focused on regional stability regarding Afghanistan and practical cooperation to combat terrorism, serious organized crime, illegal migration, and visa fraud.
At the Ministry of Interior, the two nations agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and counter-narcotics. They committed to finalizing a Memorandum of Understanding to operationalize collaboration between the UK's National Crime Agency and Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force. Minister Naqvi reported that Pakistan has thwarted 330 attempts to smuggle narcotics into the UK in recent years.
Beyond narcotics, the discussions covered cybercrime, Coast Guard coordination, and professional training. Both countries agreed to convene a working group of interior ministry representatives to maintain momentum on these initiatives. This visit follows a series of diplomatic engagements, including an October visit by UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Stephen Doughty and August talks between Ishaq Dar and British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband.
