KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia and Pakistan have agreed in principle to establish a working group between their 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 in a more effective manner.
He said the matter was discussed in a bilateral meeting with Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Interior and Narcotics Control Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi in Islamabad during his visit to the country.
The discussions covered a wide range of security and enforcement issues, including police cooperation, intelligence sharing, counter-terrorism, 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 security and enforcement institutions of both countries,” Saifuddin Nasution said in a Facebook post yesterday.
He also expressed Malaysia’s appreciation for Pakistan’s role in facilitating international dialogue towards regional peace and stability.
“We also shared our 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.
Saifuddin Nasution also conveyed the greetings of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim and expressed appreciation for the invitation, hospitality, and arrangements made during the official visit.
He said Malaysia and Pakistan had long enjoyed close relations based on friendship, mutual respect and trust.
“In an increasingly challenging global security landscape, strategic cooperation must continue to be strengthened so that both countries are ready to address emerging threats that transcend borders.
“I am confident closer ties of our security and enforcement institutions will continue to contribute to regional peace, stability and prosperity,” he said.
