ISLAMABAD: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi reiterated Pakistan’s dedication to the “Shanghai spirit” and urged SCO member states to adopt a coordinated approach against terrorism, organized crime, drug trafficking, cybercrime, and terror financing.
He made these remarks at a special gathering of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Ministers of Interior and Public Security in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
Naqvi highlighted the region’s “serious and complex security challenges,” stressing that criminal and terrorist networks are rapidly exploiting advances such as artificial intelligence, digital platforms, online networks, and cryptocurrencies to expand their operations.
The minister called for modernized institutional coordination and stronger intelligence‑sharing mechanisms across the region to counter these evolving threats.
“Shared threats require shared solutions,” Naqvi told delegates, urging a comprehensive regional strategy to combat transnational crime and emerging security risks.
Emphasizing Pakistan’s alignment with SCO principles, he said, “Pakistan fully adheres to the Shanghai spirit, which is based on mutual trust, equality, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty.”
Naqvi added that Pakistan has made “unparalleled sacrifices” in the fight against terrorism and continues to reinforce its security architecture to meet new challenges.
Under the National Action Plan, the country has bolstered intelligence coordination, border management, and anti‑money‑laundering measures, “significantly enhancing our capacity to combat terrorism and organized crime.”
He urged deeper cooperation within SCO’s Regional Anti‑Terrorist Structure (RATS) for intelligence sharing, joint threat analysis, and countering online radicalisation and extremist propaganda.
Pakistan also supports workshops and expert‑exchange programmes that build collective capabilities.
Addressing cybersecurity, Naqvi said that cooperation on cyber intelligence and digital forensics is “the need of the hour,” noting that technological advances have opened new avenues for criminal and terrorist groups.
Regarding narcotics trafficking, he warned that the illicit drug trade remains a major source of terror financing and called for a coordinated strategy against drug networks, online criminal operations, and illicit financial flows facilitated by digital currencies.
Pakistan’s Anti‑Narcotics Force remains actively involved in SCO‑led counter‑narcotics initiatives and is ready to deepen cooperation with partner countries.
He stressed that robust border security is essential for regional peace and stability, urging greater collaboration to prevent forged travel documents, improve watch‑list coordination, and combat human smuggling.
Stopping terror financing is a top priority for Pakistan. The country has reformed its anti‑money‑laundering regime and enhanced its financial monitoring framework, which now plays “an active role” in detecting and preventing illicit financial activities.
Naqvi emphasized that strong regional cooperation is indispensable for dismantling terror‑financing networks, noting that no nation can effectively confront transnational threats alone.
“Our challenges are common, so our efforts must also be collective and coordinated,” he said. “The common goal of our joint efforts is a peaceful and secure SCO region.”
Concluding his address, Naqvi expressed optimism that SCO participants will attend the summit scheduled to be held in Islamabad in 2027.
Earlier, Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, on the sidelines of the SCO meeting to discuss bilateral relations and the current regional situation.
