KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Pakistan have agreed in principle to establish a working group between their respective ministries to strengthen cooperation in security and law enforcement.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the proposed working group would coordinate follow-up actions and ensure agreed areas of cooperation could be implemented more structurally and effectively.
He said the matter was discussed during his bilateral meeting with Pakistan's Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi in Islamabad yesterday as part of his working visit to Pakistan.
The discussions covered a wide range of security and enforcement issues, including police cooperation, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, combating drug trafficking and transnational crime, cybersecurity, immigration, human trafficking, prisoner management and maritime enforcement.
"As ministers responsible for domestic affairs and security, we share the view that close Malaysia-Pakistan relations should be supported by equally strong cooperation between the security and enforcement institutions of both countries," Saifuddin Nasution said in a Facebook post on Friday (Aug 21).
He said the meeting provided an opportunity to identify practical and impactful areas of cooperation that could be translated into clear follow-up action.
Saifuddin Nasution also expressed Malaysia's appreciation for Pakistan's role in facilitating international dialogue that contributes to regional peace and stability.
He also shared Malaysia's experience in helping facilitate negotiations to resolve the border dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
"The experience of both countries demonstrates that dialogue, diplomacy and cooperation remain important foundations in addressing increasingly complex security and geopolitical challenges," he said.
He also conveyed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's greetings and expressed appreciation for the invitation, hospitality and arrangements made during his official visit.
He said Malaysia and Pakistan have long enjoyed close relations based on friendship, mutual respect and trust.
"In an increasingly challenging global security landscape, strategic cooperation such as this must continue to be strengthened so that both countries remain prepared to address emerging threats that transcend borders.
"I am confident that closer ties between Malaysia's and Pakistan's security and enforcement institutions will continue to contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity," he said.
