Indonesia, Russia seek to deepen defense cooperation

Moscow's Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev met with Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, affirming substantial potential for bolstering economic and trade ties between the two nations, according to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO). Kolokoltsev, who arrived in Pakistan on Monday for a four-day visit, emphasized Russia's eagerness to deepen bilateral relations and expand cooperation in areas of mutual interest, including trade, investment, energy, and economic development.

During the meeting with Sharif, Kolokoltsev underscored Russia's commitment to enhancing bilateral ties and boosting cooperation in the security sector. He appreciated Pakistan's support at various international platforms, particularly the United Nations. Meanwhile, Sharif reiterated Pakistan's resolve to deepen its friendly relations with Russia, leveraging existing bilateral mechanisms to foster mutually beneficial cooperation.

In a separate development, Pakistan and Russia agreed to finalize an extradition treaty and sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in preventing organized crime and exchanging information. The agreement was reached during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Kolokoltsev in Islamabad. Both sides pledged to enhance mutual cooperation in areas of shared interest and to expedite the implementation of a readmission agreement.

They also agreed to facilitate visa acquisition for tourists and the business community, and to enhance cooperation in preventing cybercrime through collaboration between their respective national police academies.