Malaysia and Pakistan Bolster Cooperation to Combat Drug Threats

Malaysia and Pakistan are bolstering their collaboration to combat the escalating threat of illicit drugs. The two nations are set to enhance intelligence sharing, conduct coordinated intelligence-based operations, and exchange expertise between their respective agencies.

This intensified cooperation is envisioned within a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on narcotics control, designed to provide a more organized structure for their existing partnership. Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, Malaysia's Minister of Home Affairs, highlighted the growing complexity of drug trafficking, particularly the rise of synthetic drugs like methamphetamine and the involvement of transnational criminal networks operating across borders.

Saifuddin Nasution emphasized Pakistan's strategic importance due to its proximity to drug routes originating from Afghanistan, noting that these smuggling paths extend into East and Southeast Asia. He stressed that combating this threat requires a concerted international effort, extending beyond national or regional boundaries.

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We cannot tackle this threat solely within national borders or the ASEAN region.

Malaysia and Pakistan have a history of successful operational cooperation, having coordinated over 28 cases between 2012 and 2018. The renewed focus will involve reactivating this collaboration through more active intelligence sharing, synchronized operations, and specialized training. The minister also held discussions with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Mohammad Ishaq Dar, covering regional and international developments, economic cooperation including trade and investment, food security, market access, and people-to-people ties through potential visa facilities.

Further discussions with Pakistan's Interior Minister included an agreement to establish a Joint Working Group to detail cooperation in security, narcotics control, and police training. A prisoner transfer agreement between the two countries was also signed.

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Information must be shared, intelligence translated into action, and international networks leveraged to break the supply chain before drugs reach our country.