ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh on Friday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation to combat drug smuggling, narcotics use, and illegal trafficking, as the two countries agreed to deepen collaboration on internal security, counterterrorism, and organized crime.
The agreement was signed during a meeting in Dhaka between Pakistan's Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed, according to Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior.
Under the MoU, both countries agreed to "extend full cooperation to each other to prevent the illegal transportation and smuggling of narcotics" while jointly working to curb the growing use of drugs and their impact on society, the ministry said in a post on X.
The two sides also agreed to devise a "joint strategy" to break the illegal sale and supply chain of narcotics and improve coordination between relevant agencies.
Enhancing bilateral cooperation
"The relevant agencies of both countries will exchange timely information about drug smugglers and networks," the ministry said, adding that "training of personnel, use of modern technology, and best practices for drug prevention will be shared".
"The interior ministers also exchanged views on joint measures for counter-terrorism," the ministry said, adding that detailed discussions were held on enhancing bilateral cooperation regarding organized crime, internal security, and financial fraud.
Both sides also agreed to expand cooperation in training programs for officers at police academies and civil armed forces institutions.
Naqvi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to visit Pakistan, while Salahuddin Ahmed thanked him for offering Pakistan’s support for Bangladesh’s Safe City Project, the ministry said.
Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Asad Alam Saem, Cabinet Secretary Naseem Ghani, Interior Secretary Manzoor Chaudhry, and Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Bangladesh Imran Haider also attended the meeting.
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