Islamabad (TDI): Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and the United States’ Chargé d’affaires, Natalie Baker, met on Saturday, agreeing to deepen cooperation on migration control, law enforcement training, and joint actions against fraudulent visa networks.
The meeting, according to the Ministry of Interior, focused on strengthening bilateral ties and tackling key security challenges, especially illegal immigration.
Both sides emphasized enhancing the pre-immigration clearance system and agreed to better cooperation at all levels, particularly in law enforcement training, including police forces.
A central outcome of the talks was Pakistan and the US agreeing to launch joint operations under comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) against networks involved in fake and fraudulent visa activities.
Naqvi reiterated that the government has adopted a “zero-tolerance policy” against agent mafias and facilitators of illegal migration, welcoming US support to broaden these efforts.
“I am personally monitoring the actions against fake visa networks,” Naqvi said, highlighting the government’s active role in dismantling illegal migration channels.
He also noted that upgrades to Pakistan’s passport technology have made travel documents more secure and harder to forge.
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Calling illegal immigration a serious challenge, Naqvi stressed that actions against those attempting to reach the United States illegally will be relentless.
Officials pointed to what they describe as a 47 percent reduction in illegal migration from Pakistan as a result of the government’s policies and enforcement measures; a figure that underscores the shift toward tougher border management and internal controls.
Baker reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to its partnership with Pakistan, underscoring that both nations share aligned priorities in combating illicit migration and other transnational challenges.
“We attach special importance to our ties with Pakistan,” she said, indicating that enhanced cooperation would help strengthen broader bilateral relations.
The discussion reflects a broader pattern of engagement between Pakistan and its international partners on migration issues.
In recent months, Islamabad has held similar talks with US officials on security, narcotics control, and intelligence sharing, as well as with the European Union on illegal immigration and human trafficking.
