Islamabad (GNP): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s intention to deepen its relationship with Malaysia across security, law enforcement, trade, and investment during a meeting with Malaysian Home Affairs Minister Dato’ Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail in Islamabad.
The two discussed the regional situation, with Sharif specifically acknowledging Malaysia’s support for Pakistan’s peace efforts in the region. The Malaysian minister passed along greetings from Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and conveyed his government’s interest in further strengthening ties with Pakistan. Sharif, in turn, asked after Anwar Ibrahim’s health and wished him a swift recovery.
During the visit, Sharif witnessed the signing of an Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons between the two countries, signed by the Malaysian home minister and Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, Special Assistant to the PM Tariq Fatemi, and other senior officials attended.
Separately, the Malaysian minister met one-on-one with Naqvi at the Ministry of Interior, followed by broader delegation-level discussions involving senior officials from both sides.
The talks covered a range of internal security and law enforcement issues, including counterterrorism, anti-narcotics operations, illegal immigration, and cybercrime. Both ministers agreed that intelligence-sharing would be central to tackling security threats and dismantling terrorism and drug-trafficking networks, and discussed strengthening joint efforts against human smuggling.
The two sides also agreed to expand cooperation between Pakistan’s National Police Academy and Malaysia’s Royal Police College, including broader training exchanges and expertise-sharing. Coast guard cooperation featured prominently as well, with Naqvi noting Pakistan’s interest in learning from Malaysia’s experience in that field.
Naqvi expressed confidence that the visit would strengthen bilateral ties and open new areas of cooperation, describing Malaysia as an important partner that has made notable economic and social progress.
Tourism and visa facilitation were also discussed, with both sides looking at ways to ease travel between the two countries. Naqvi noted that Malaysia remains a popular destination for Pakistani travelers and voiced hope that expanded work quotas could open more legal employment opportunities there for Pakistani workers.
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Both ministers reiterated their commitment to broadening cooperation across sectors. The meeting was also attended by Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry, the Federal Interior Secretary, the Director General of the FIA, the Inspector General of the Federal Constabulary, NACTA’s National Coordinator, the Director General of Passports, and the Chief Commissioner and Inspector General of Islamabad, among other officials.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
