ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Somalia agreed Friday to step up cooperation on internal security and counterterrorism in a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Somalia’s Interior Minister Ali Yusuf at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad.
Officials said the talks focused on building shared capacity across a range of security functions and formalizing channels for sustained collaboration between the two governments. The ministers also discussed ways to streamline people-to-people links, including easier movement for Somalis seeking care and study in Pakistan.
- Advertisement -
Pakistan announced it will facilitate visas for Somali citizens traveling for medical treatment and education, part of a broader effort to deepen bilateral ties and expand practical cooperation. Naqvi conveyed Pakistan’s readiness to support Somalia in policing, border management and counterterrorism, underscoring an interest in close coordination across multiple sectors.
The two sides highlighted specific areas for joint work:
- Training and capacity building for law enforcement and internal security agencies
- Border control and information exchange
- Disaster management and emergency response
- Joint efforts to combat terrorism and related threats
Yusuf said Somalia faces serious security challenges and remains engaged in active operations against terrorist groups. He expressed confidence the visit would strengthen relations and open new avenues for cooperation.
The Somali delegation showed particular interest in drawing on Pakistan’s experience in security management and urban infrastructure development. Yusuf also noted recent initiatives to improve Islamabad’s infrastructure and praised Naqvi’s focus on city management, according to the Interior Ministry’s readout.
Both ministers emphasized the need for closer, institutionalized coordination to advance shared interests and ensure progress in agreed areas. Yusuf extended a formal invitation for Naqvi to visit Somalia and conveyed a message from Somalia’s prime minister to Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif affirming a commitment to deepen ties.
The meeting reflects a push by both countries to convert diplomatic goodwill into functional cooperation, particularly on internal security and counterterrorism. While no timelines were publicly announced, officials framed the discussions as a foundation for sustained engagement, with early steps likely to center on training programs, procedural cooperation and streamlined travel for Somalis seeking services in Pakistan.
No additional details were immediately available on the scope or duration of the planned initiatives. Both sides signaled that follow-up consultations would set the pace for implementation and identify further opportunities for collaboration.
By Ali Musa
Axadle Times international–Monitoring.
