Pakistan, Iran agree to boost cooperation on counter-terrorism, border security | The Express Tribune

Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to enhance cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, preventing illegal immigration and combating human trafficking, as Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held talks with his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni in Islamabad.

Momeni arrived in Islamabad on Monday along with a high-level delegation amid fresh tensions in the Middle East. The visit came amid heightened regional tensions after the United States and Iran exchanged strikes, with Washington targeting locations in Iran and Tehran’s forces responding against US military assets in the region.

The US and Iran signed a Pakistani-mediated memorandum of understanding last month to end their conflict and reach a lasting peace agreement, but tensions escalated again.

Naqvi warmly received Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni upon his arrival at the airport, where a smartly turned-out contingent of the Federal Constabulary presented him with a guard of honour.

According to state-run Radio Pakistan, the two sides agreed to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism, counter-narcotics, prevention of illegal immigration and human trafficking.

During the meeting, both ministers underscored the need for adopting a joint strategy to prevent terrorism and drug trafficking along the Pakistan-Afghanistan-Iran region, with particular emphasis on addressing threats emanating from the Afghan border.

Read: PM Shehbaz urges US, Iran to exercise restraint in meeting with Iranian minister

The two ministers also reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening bilateral relations, enhancing mutual trade and improving coordination mechanisms to expand cooperation between the two neighbouring countries.

Speaking on the occasion, Naqvi said Pakistan was ready to expand cooperation with Iran in all sectors.

He also appreciated the efforts of Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, saying they had made “exceptional efforts for peace.” Naqvi expressed hope that “good news will emerge and peace will prevail.”

According to the Ministry of Interior, the Iranian delegation included the Governor General of Sistan-Baluchestan, Iran’s deputy interior minister, deputy minister for urban development and transport, the head of the National Iranian Oil Company, the special representative of Iran’s agriculture minister and other senior officials.

Minister of State also attended the meeting for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Federal Interior Secretary, NADRA Chairman, Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Director General of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), Inspector General of the Federal Constabulary, Director General of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA), Director General of Immigration and Passports, Chairman of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), Inspector General of Islamabad Police and additional secretaries of the Ministry of Interior.

Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi

Separately, in a meeting between Momeni and Railway Minister Hanif Abbasi, the two sides reviewed progress on key cross-border railway projects, including the Main Line-3 (ML-3), the Zahedan-Taftan railway section and the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) freight train service during

According to an official statement, the meeting was also attended by Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam.

The two sides discussed Pakistan-Iran relations, regional peace, railway cooperation, border connectivity, trade and the promotion of economic cooperation, the statement said.

During the meeting, Abbasi paid tribute to the resilience of the Iranian leadership and people during the recent regional crisis.

The railway minister highlighted progress on the Main Line-3 (ML-3) project, the Zahedan-Taftan railway section, the Taftan Customs Clearance Station and the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul (ITI) freight train service, describing them as important initiatives for strengthening connectivity and bilateral cooperation.

For his part, Momeni appreciated Pakistan’s support during the recent crisis and praised the diplomatic efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir.

The statement said Momeni also reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to further expanding bilateral cooperation with Pakistan across multiple sectors.

Visit to NDMA

Momeni also on Wednesday visited the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) National Emergencies Operation Center (NEOC) in Islamabad and praised Pakistan’s disaster management capabilities and expressed interest in expanding institutional cooperation on early warning systems and climate resilience.

According to the NDMA, Momeni visited the NEOC with a high-level delegation that included Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam, while Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry also accompanied the delegation.

NDMA Chairman Lt General Inam Haider Malik welcomed the delegation and briefed it on the authority’s modern disaster management system, early warning mechanisms, disaster preparedness and emergency response measures.

The delegation also received a detailed presentation on the operational capabilities of the NEOC, the effective use of national resources and disaster risks expected to confront Pakistan and neighbouring countries during 2026.

During the visit, General Malik underscored the importance of cooperation and the exchange of expertise between Pakistan and Iran in the field of disaster management.

The NDMA said the Iranian delegation praised NOEC and its technology-driven disaster management system.

Momeni commended NDMA Pakistan’s progress in disaster preparedness and response and expressed keen interest in learning from Pakistan’s experience in early warning systems, proactive disaster management strategies, institutional coordination and the use of advanced technologies.

He said greater cooperation and the exchange of expertise between Pakistan and Iran in disaster management would strengthen the region’s collective capacity to respond to natural disasters.

The NDMA said Iran also expressed its commitment to expanding institutional cooperation with Pakistan to address the growing challenges posed by natural disasters and climate change.

Momeni described NDMA Pakistan’s technology-based disaster management and risk mitigation model as one worthy of emulation, according to the authority.

The two sides reaffirmed the importance of cooperation, knowledge-sharing and capacity building in disaster management and early warning systems.

The NDMA said it remained committed to strengthening Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and national resilience through advanced technology and international collaboration.

According to Anadolu, citing Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB, Momeni is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to advance bilateral cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad. The Iranian government, in a post on X, stated that the visit aimed to boost border security and bilateral cooperation in transit and agriculture and aligned with the goal to increase trade from $3b to $10b.

“Following his Pakistan visit, Momeni will travel to New Delhi, India, at the invitation of his Indian counterpart to attend the BRICS Meeting of Ministers for Disaster Management, focusing on disaster risk reduction,” it stated.

Conflict escalates

US forces hit Iran for a ninth consecutive day on Monday as concerns grew over shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after Iran said two oil tankers had exploded and been immobilised.

In a statement, US Central Command said it had begun “a new wave of strikes” aimed at “degrading” Iran’s ability to attack commercial vessels in the strait’s vital shipping lanes. It gave no further details.

The strikes are part of an escalating cycle of attacks between the US and Iran after an interim ceasefire agreement signed a month ago unravelled, deepening a struggle for control over the Strait of Hormuz that has disrupted energy supplies and stoked fears of global inflation.

A joint de-escalation proposal by Pakistan and Qatar had urged the United States and Iran to return to their pre-July 9 positions “as a first step” to resume stalled talks to permanently end their months-long war, Pakistani government sources told Anadolu.