Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev has expressed confidence in the potential to expand trade and economic cooperation between Pakistan and Russia, reaffirming Moscow’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations.
Kolokoltsev arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a four-day visit at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. The visit marks the first time a Russian interior minister has travelled to Pakistan.
During a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, Kolokoltsev highlighted the significant opportunities available for expanding bilateral trade and economic engagement, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The Russian minister conveyed Moscow’s desire to strengthen relations with Islamabad and broaden cooperation in areas of mutual interest. He also expressed appreciation for Pakistan’s support at various multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening its friendly relations with Russia and making effective use of existing bilateral mechanisms to advance mutually beneficial cooperation.
He emphasised the need to expand collaboration in trade, investment, energy and economic development. The premier also expressed satisfaction with the positive momentum in bilateral relations and stressed the importance of building on recent progress.
Kolokoltsev also met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.
According to a statement issued by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the two sides discussed matters of mutual interest and the regional security situation, with particular emphasis on strengthening security cooperation between Pakistan and Russia.
Both sides underscored the importance of closer institutional ties and improved coordination between their respective security institutions.
Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding relations with Russia and expanding practical cooperation in areas of shared interest, particularly security.
Kolokoltsev appreciated Pakistan’s contribution to regional peace and stability and acknowledged the professionalism and sacrifices of Pakistani security forces in the fight against terrorism.
Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan and Russia agreed to finalise an extradition treaty and work towards signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on preventing organised crime and exchanging information.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Kolokoltsev in Islamabad, followed by delegation-level discussions, according to the Interior Ministry. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif witnessed the signing of the MoU, the PMO said.
Naqvi described the proposed agreement on preventing organised crime as an important milestone in bilateral cooperation.
Both sides agreed to strengthen collaboration in areas of mutual interest, finalise an extradition treaty and advance an agreement on the exchange of criminals. They also pledged to ensure the early implementation of a readmission agreement.
The two countries further agreed to enhance cooperation between Pakistan’s Anti-Narcotics Force and relevant Russian institutions.
It was decided that working groups from the interior ministries of both countries would visit each other in the near future.
The discussions also covered the deployment of skilled Pakistani workers to Russia and measures to facilitate visa procedures for tourists and businesspeople.
Both sides agreed to strengthen cooperation on cybercrime prevention between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and the Russian Police Academy.
Naqvi said easing visa procedures would promote people-to-people contact between the two countries. He also expressed Pakistan’s interest in benefiting from Russia’s experience in combating cybercrime.
He noted that approximately 1,300 Pakistani students were currently studying in Russia and said Islamabad wanted to encourage more students to pursue education there.
Kolokoltsev stressed the importance of joint measures to combat organised crime, including terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration. He also said Russia had reduced cybercrime by 33 per cent through effective measures.
The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Russian ambassador to Pakistan, senior officials from the Interior Ministry and other representatives.
The Russian interior minister also met Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also attended the meeting.
According to the Foreign Office, Dar welcomed the positive momentum in Pakistan-Russia relations, highlighting recent high-level visits and exchanges.
The two sides discussed opportunities to enhance cooperation in trade, investment, culture and tourism, strengthen people-to-people links and maintain close coordination at multilateral forums, including the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Pakistan and Russia have expanded their economic engagement in recent years, driven by shared interests in trade, energy and regional cooperation.
In January, Russian President Vladimir Putin described Moscow’s relations with Islamabad as mutually beneficial and emphasised the importance of maintaining close ties between the two countries.
In July last year, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk called Pakistan and Russia natural allies, noting that Putin regarded Islamabad as an important strategic partner in economic and energy affairs.
Following Western sanctions imposed over the Ukraine conflict, Russia sought new markets for its energy exports. Pakistan, meanwhile, pursued more affordable fuel supplies to reduce its import bill.
The two countries’ energy cooperation advanced in 2023, when Pakistan began importing Russian crude oil as part of efforts to diversify its energy sources and manage import costs.
