Daily Times

Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi met with Acting US Ambassador Natalie Baker and INL Country Director Lynn Nelson on Tuesday to discuss ways to enhance Pakistan-US cooperation, focusing on law enforcement and security matters.

During the meeting, Ambassador Baker extended condolences for the recent deaths of police and Rangers personnel in Islamabad.

The two officials also reviewed progress on various bilateral initiatives, including the preparations for Pakistan’s hosting of the ICC Champions Trophy.

Mohsin Naqvi highlighted Pakistan’s plan to modernise the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) along the lines of the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The US agreed to support this transformation and provide technical assistance.

The Minister also stressed the importance of equipping the Civil Armed Forces with modern tools and weapons to combat terrorism and manage emergencies effectively.

“We welcome US support in enhancing the capacity of our law enforcement agencies. This cooperation is crucial in strengthening Pakistan’s response to evolving security challenges,” Naqvi said.

Ambassador Natalie Baker reaffirmed US commitment to the law enforcement sector and praised Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to improve its police forces. She also expressed her best wishes for the successful organisation of the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan.

Mohsin Naqvi emphasised that the longstanding Pakistan-US relationship was based on shared goals of security and stability. He assured that no foreign nationals with legal documentation would be expelled from Islamabad, though illegal immigrants would not be permitted to remain.

The meeting also saw discussions on increasing the representation of women in Pakistan’s law enforcement agencies. Both sides reiterated their commitment to furthering this goal.

Federal Secretary of the Interior Khurram Ali Agha and Additional Secretary Riffat Mukhtar Raja also attended the meeting.

US Charge D’Affaires Natalie Baker has said that the economic relationship with Pakistan is important for the United States, which has continued to invest in the South Asian nation.

“We recognise Pakistan’s enormous potential. It is one of the world’s most populous countries, with a growing and dynamic young population,” she remarked while speaking at the Fifth Pakistan-America Business Forum, organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

She mentioned that the US was Pakistan’s largest export market globally as Pakistan sent around 16% of its total exports to the US each year. “Pakistan’s exports to the US have grown substantially over the last decade. This is a testament to the robust economic relationship we share.”

Similarly, she said, the US investors contributed enormously to Pakistan’s economic development. Right now, over 80 US firms directly employ 120,000 Pakistanis and indirectly support the livelihoods of over a million Pakistani workers.