At UN, Pakistan interior minister discusses peacekeeping, counterterrorism role

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held high-level talks this week with United Nations leadership and foreign counterparts on peacekeeping, counterterrorism and narcotics control at an international police gathering in New York.

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The interior minister attended the fifth UN Chiefs of Police Summit on July 7-8 at UN Headquarters.

According to a post by the United Nations Police on their official X account, the two-day event drew interior ministers, police chiefs and UN officials to address transnational crime, evolving security threats and how national forces can work with UN Police operations.

Talks with UN Chief
Naqvi met with Secretary-General António Guterres on Thursday on the summit's margins, according to the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the UN. They discussed regional tensions, Pakistan's push for dialogue to resolve Middle East conflicts, and UN peacekeeping missions.

He said that Pakistan, under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir, has worked responsibly to ease regional tensions and protect civilians.

He added that peacekeeping missions need realistic mandates and sufficient funding to succeed.

Guterres commended Pakistan's role in peacekeeping operations and its commitment to international stability, and thanked it for its sustained support to UN peace efforts.

Russia cooperation agreement
The interior minister met Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Aleksandrovich Kolokoltsev on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday.

Both nations agreed to sign a cooperation agreement covering drug trafficking, terrorism, cybercrime and joint police training, according to a post by the Interior Ministry on X.

Naqvi invited Kolokoltsev to visit Pakistan.

The two also discussed terrorist operations in Afghanistan, where Naqvi said more than 25 armed groups operate.

"Eliminating these organizations is a shared responsibility," he stressed.

Earlier, on Wednesday, the interior minister met Sri Lankan Interior Minister Anand Vijayapala. Both agreed to coordinate drug control efforts and expand police training cooperation.