Pakistan, Russia agree to finalise extradition treaty, to sign MoU on prevention of organised crime

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Russia on Wednesday agreed to finalise an extradition treaty and pledged to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in preventing organised crime and exchanging information. Minister of Internal Affairs Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived in Pakistan on Monday. He is undertaking a four-day visit at the invitation of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, marking the first instance of a Russian interior minister visiting Pakistan. The understanding was reached during a meeting between Naqvi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Kolokolstev in Islamabad. The meeting was followed by delegation-level talks, the interior ministry said in a statement. Naqvi, during the meeting, said the proposed MoU on prevention of organised crime would be an important milestone in cooperation between the two countries.

The two sides pledged to enhance mutual cooperation in areas of shared interests as they agreed to finalise an extradition treaty and an agreement on the exchange of criminals. Both sides resolved to promote cooperation in areas of mutual interest and decided to ensure early implementation of a readmission agreement, according to the statement. They also agreed to enhance cooperation between the Anti-Narcotics Force and relevant Russian institutions. It was agreed in the meeting that working groups from the interior ministries of both countries would soon visit each other. The two sides also discussed sending skilled manpower from Pakistan to Russia and facilitating visa acquisition for tourists and the business community, as per the statement. They agreed to enhance cooperation for the prevention of cybercrime between the National Police Academy and the Russian Police Academy, the statement said. Naqvi said easing the visa regime would increase…