Pakistan commits to 'Shanghai spirit,' urges joint strategy against security threats

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi pledged the nation's dedication to the "Shanghai spirit" during a special meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) interior and public security ministers in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. He urged member states to unite in developing a shared strategy to confront interconnected security challenges.

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Pakistan fully adheres to the principles of the Shanghai Spirit, which is based on mutual trust, equality, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty.

Naqvi emphasized the growing sophistication of criminal and terrorist networks, which are increasingly leveraging technological advancements like artificial intelligence, digital platforms, and cryptocurrency. He stressed the critical need for modernizing institutional coordination and enhancing intelligence-sharing mechanisms across the region to effectively counter these evolving threats.

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These initiatives have significantly strengthened the country’s capacity to combat terrorism and organised crime.

"Shared threats demand shared solutions," Naqvi declared, advocating for a comprehensive regional approach to tackle transnational crime and emerging security risks. He reiterated Pakistan's adherence to the SCO's foundational principles: mutual trust, equality, cooperation, and respect for sovereignty. Naqvi highlighted Pakistan's significant sacrifices in combating terrorism and its ongoing efforts to bolster its security infrastructure, including intelligence coordination, border management, and anti-money laundering measures under its National Action Plan.

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Shared threats demand shared solutions

The minister also called for more robust cooperation within the SCO's Regional Anti-Terrorist Structure (RATS) to facilitate intelligence sharing, joint threat analysis, and counter-radicalization efforts. He underscored the urgency of cybersecurity cooperation, noting that technological progress creates new avenues for criminal and terrorist organizations. Addressing narcotics trafficking, Naqvi warned of its role in financing terrorism and called for coordinated strategies against drug networks, online criminal operations, and illicit financial flows, particularly those facilitated by digital currencies. Pakistan's Anti-Narcotics Force, he stated, is prepared to deepen cooperation with partner countries on these fronts.

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cyber intelligence and digital forensics cooperation were 'the need of the hour'