UK security minister visits Pakistan to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation

UK Security Minister Dan Jarvis visited Pakistan to strengthen security cooperation between the two countries, holding meetings with senior political, military and law-enforcement officials to discuss regional stability, counter-terrorism and illegal migration.

According to a statement issued on Friday, the UK and Pakistan were working to strengthen practical cooperation against terrorism, serious organised crime, illegal migration and visa fraud, with the aim of disrupting threats before they reached the UK and protecting communities in both countries.

During his first visit to Pakistan, Jarvis met senior ministers, military officials and law-enforcement leaders to discuss further action on shared security and migration priorities.The discussions focused on strengthening operational cooperation, improving information sharing and building capabilities to tackle criminal and terrorist networks, the statement said.

Jarvis also held talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on regional security, including stability in Afghanistan, as well as bilateral cooperation on counter-terrorism and serious organised crime.

“The UK and Pakistan face shared threats, and we are stronger when we confront them together. My visit has focused on deepening the partnership that helps keep British people safe,” Jarvis said.

“Terrorism, serious organised crime, illegal migration and visa fraud do not stop at borders. Tackling them demands practical cooperation with trusted partners – cooperation that protects communities in both our countries,” he added.

“This visit is about turning a strong relationship into real results: disrupting criminal networks, improving how we share vital information and building the capabilities that protect the UK,” he concluded.

In October, UK Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Stephen Doughty visited Pakistan, where he held meetings with senior Pakistani officials, including Dar, Naqvi and Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar.

Read: Pakistan, UK agree to deepen cooperation in security, trade and migration

Discussions during Doughty’s visit covered economic growth, trade, regional security, counterterrorism, education and migration. The visit also included discussions on reducing illegal migration and strengthening cooperation on shared security priorities.

Earlier, on August 27, Dar held delegation-level talks with British Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband in London. The discussions covered bilateral relations, counterterrorism cooperation, the Indus Waters Treaty and the evolving regional security situation. Dar also met British National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell during the visit.