ISLAMABAD – Acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker met Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday, where both sides agreed to enhance cooperation in curbing illegal immigration, counter-narcotics operations, and strengthening security collaboration.
During the meeting, the two officials reviewed joint measures to prevent illegal immigration. They reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying information-sharing, improving coordination, and adopting a unified strategy to combat drug trafficking.
Ambassador Baker offered full technical assistance from the United States to support Pakistan’s efforts against narcotics smuggling and illegal migration. Minister Naqvi emphasised that Pakistan’s policy on illegal immigration is clear, and the government is taking concrete steps to address the issue.
Naqvi said that identifying drug-related cases at airports remains his top priority. He noted that state-of-the-art scanning machines are being installed at all airports to eliminate negligence and strengthen monitoring systems. He reiterated that the government is strictly enforcing a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics, adding that drugs originating from Afghanistan continue to harm young people across several countries. He welcomed the technical support offered by the United States for these efforts.
The interior minister further stated that, on the prime minister’s directives, a National Narcotics Coordination Centre will soon be established to ensure unified and effective cooperation among all relevant agencies.
Officials also briefed the meeting on the performance of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF), revealing that during the annual counter-narcotics campaign, 134 tonnes of drugs were seized. A total of 2,001 suspects were arrested, including 75 foreign nationals, while the seized narcotics were valued at 12.797 billion dollars. Additionally, 110 Afghan citizens were detained in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Sindh, and 40,659 acres of land was cleared to maintain poppy-free zones.
Ambassador Baker praised the ANF’s performance and reaffirmed that the United States places high importance on its relationship with Pakistan, pledging continued cooperation across multiple sectors.
Minister Naqvi stressed that Pakistan-US relations play a vital role in promoting peace and stability in the region and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening these longstanding ties.
The meeting was attended by the federal interior secretary, the ANF director general, the director of enforcement, representatives of the US embassy, and other officials.
