MANAMA (Kashmir English): Pakistan and Bahrain have agreed to deepen their partnership in tackling terrorism, drug trafficking, and human smuggling through improved counterterrorism cooperation and information sharing. The development came during Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s official visit to Manama, where he met Bahraini Interior Minister General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al-Khalifa.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bahraini counterpart Gen Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa have stressed the need to further boost collaboration in counterterrorism and anti-human trafficking efforts between their countries.
Naqvi met with Gen Rashid in Manama on Thursday, according to the Bahrain News Agency (BNA). Both officials emphasised the need to “further strengthen their security collaboration”, state-run Radio Pakistan reported today.
The focus of the meeting was on counterterrorism cooperation, as both countries face growing regional and global threats. The two ministers discussed ways to boost joint operations, intelligence exchange, and capacity building between their law enforcement agencies.
The two sides held discussions on bilateral cooperation in counterterrorism, combating human trafficking and anti-narcotics efforts. They also mulled making the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Security Committee more effective.
The Bahraini interior minister expressed his appreciation for cooperation and coordination between the two countries in various fields, including security, according to Radio Pakistan.
“We value the security cooperation with Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying.
On his part, Naqvi highlighted that enhancing cooperation in counter-narcotics and anti-human trafficking efforts was the “need of the hour”.
During the meeting at Bahrain’s Interior Ministry, the two sides agreed to make the Pakistan–Bahrain Joint Security Committee more effective. This committee will now play a greater role in monitoring threats related to terrorism, narcotics trade, and human trafficking. The goal is to ensure timely responses and preventive measures through regular communication and joint strategy planning.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Naqvi emphasized that counterterrorism cooperation is not just important for the region, but for the world. He added that Pakistan values Bahrain as a key partner in promoting peace and security in the Gulf and South Asia.
As a gesture of goodwill, Minister Naqvi also extended an invitation to his Bahraini counterpart to visit Islamabad, where further discussions on counterterrorism cooperation and border security can take place.
Officials say the renewed focus on counterterrorism cooperation will help both nations confront not only local threats but also transnational crime networks. Analysts believe this partnership could serve as a model for future Gulf-South Asia security collaborations.
