Interior Minister, US Chargé d’Affaires review cooperation on counter-narcotics, security and immigration
Federal Minister of Interior Mohsin Naqvi met with US Charge d’affaires Natalie Baker
Pakistan has seized 134 tonnes of narcotics, arrested 2,001 suspects, including 75 foreign nationals, and confiscated drugs worth $12.8 billion as part of its annual anti-narcotics campaign.
The briefing was presented during a meeting where Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met US Charge d’Affairs Natalie Baker. Both sides reviewed Pakistan-US cooperation in counter-narcotics, security and immigration control, and were briefed on the ongoing operations of the Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF).
Authorities in Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh also arrested 110 Afghan nationals, cleared 40,659 acres of poppy cultivation and maintained the status of poppy-free region. Baker praised the ongoing operations of the Anti-Narcotics Force across the country.
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Discussions focused on expanding intelligence sharing, strengthening operational coordination and jointly combating drug trafficking networks.
Naqvi said Pakistan had adopted a “clear and firm policy” against illegal immigration, adding that action against people smugglers and illegal immigration would continue “without exception”.
He said drug detection at airports remained a top priority, with modern scanners installed at major airports to boost screening capacity. “We strictly enforce a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics,” he said, warning that drugs from Afghanistan continued to reach many countries and posed a global threat to youth.
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Naqvi welcomed Washington’s offer of technical support, saying enhanced cooperation would strengthen Pakistan’s counter-narcotics capacity. He added that the government, acting on the directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, was moving quickly to establish the National Narcotics Coordination Center to streamline efforts nationwide.
Baker reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Pakistan’s counter-narcotics and border management initiatives, saying Washington attached “particular importance” to its ties with Islamabad.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary of the Interior, the Director General of the ANF, the Director of Law Enforcement of the ANF, representatives of the US Embassy and other senior officials.
