Pakistan, UK agree to expand security and law enforcement ties
Talks in Islamabad also produced plans for an anti-narcotics memorandum linking Britain's National Crime Agency with Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force.
Pakistan and Britain agreed on Friday to expand cooperation on counterterrorism, anti-narcotics work and immigration, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The agreement also covers cybercrime, the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), coast guards and training programmes.
The understanding was reached at a meeting in Islamabad between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and British Minister of State for Security Dan Jarvis.
Both sides agreed to finalize a memorandum of understanding on anti-narcotics cooperation at the earliest, a step that will put into effect ties between the UK's National Crime Agency and Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force.
They also agreed to convene a meeting of the working group set up between the interior ministries of the two countries at the earliest.
Naqvi said Pakistan had foiled 330 cases involving the smuggling of narcotics to the United Kingdom over the past few years.
He praised progress under the UPSCALE Project, saying the initiative is proving highly important in building the capacity of Pakistani institutions.
Jarvis commended the Federal Investigation Agency for its work in curbing illegal immigration.
He said cybercrime is an international challenge that all countries must tackle together.
Jarvis added that Pakistan and Britain enjoy strong cooperation in many fields and both want to expand it further.
He also acknowledged Pakistan's sacrifices and efforts in the war against terrorism.
Narcotics trafficking and illegal immigration remain shared concerns for both governments, and the working group is intended to coordinate efforts on these issues between the two interior ministries.
