Pakistan and Norway have committed to enhancing their collaboration in areas including counterterrorism, illegal immigration control, police training, and mutual legal assistance. This agreement aims to deepen bilateral cooperation on security and law enforcement issues.
The understanding was reached during a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Norwegian Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on Friday. The discussions covered bilateral relations, regional developments, and other shared concerns.
Interior Minister Naqvi highlighted Pakistan’s successful efforts in reducing illegal immigration by 47%, emphasizing the country’s strict zero-tolerance policy on this issue. He noted that the European Union has recognized Pakistan’s achievements and stressed the importance of promoting legal migration as a key strategy to combat irregular migration effectively.
The meeting also addressed the presence of banned organizations operating from Afghan territory. Naqvi pointed out that Afghanistan continues to be used as a base for terrorism against Pakistan, describing the country as a frontline barrier against global terrorism. He called for joint efforts to completely eradicate this threat.
Foreign Minister Eide praised Pakistan’s role in easing tensions between the United States and Iran and discussed the wider regional situation. He also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Pakistani community in Norway, which plays an important role across various sectors of Norwegian society.
Naqvi expressed optimism that the Norwegian foreign minister’s visit would mark a significant step forward in strengthening the relationship between the two nations.
FM Eide arrived in Pakistan on Thursday at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The previous day, Dar and his Norwegian counterpart held a restricted-format meeting, followed by delegation-level talks at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. These discussions reviewed the full scope of bilateral relations and explored regional and international developments of mutual interest.
At a joint press conference following the talks, Deputy Prime Minister Dar reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to deepening ties with Norway. FM Eide commended Pakistan’s initiatives to promote regional and international peace, noting the global recognition these efforts have received.
Additionally, the Norwegian delegation led by FM Eide visited General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, where they met with Field Marshal Asim Munir. The meeting focused on regional security, bilateral relations, and other shared interests.
