Pakistan and Russia agree to deepen security ties, work on extradition treaty

Pakistan has reaffirmed its resolve to deepen its long-standing relations with Russia, especially in security, as Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on Wednesday.

The two sides “underscored the importance of closer institutional linkages and improved coordination between the security institutions of Pakistan and Russia”, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, The Express Tribune reported.

Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan’s commitment to turning bilateral ties into tangible cooperation, particularly in the security domain. The Russian minister appreciated Pakistan’s contribution to regional peace and acknowledged the professionalism and sacrifices of the Pakistan Armed Forces in the fight against terrorism.

Extradition treaty and crime pact

At a separate meeting in Islamabad, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Kolokoltsev agreed to:

• Extradition: finalise an extradition treaty and an agreement on the exchange of criminals
• Organised crime: sign a memorandum of understanding on preventing organised crime and sharing information, which Naqvi called “an important milestone”
• Readmission: ensure early implementation of a readmission agreement
• Narcotics: expand cooperation between the Anti-Narcotics Force and Russian institutions
• Cybercrime: link the National Police Academy with the Russian Police Academy
• People: discuss sending skilled Pakistani workers to Russia and easing visas for tourists and businesspeople

Working groups from the two interior ministries will soon visit each other. Naqvi said easing the visa regime would increase people-to-people contact, and that Pakistan wanted to learn from Russia’s experience in curbing cybercrime.

Naqvi said 1,300 Pakistani students were studying in Russia and Pakistan wanted more to go. Kolokoltsev said Russia had cut cybercrime by 33 percent through effective measures, and that joint action was essential against terrorism, drug smuggling and illegal migration.

The Russian minister also met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and highlighted the “significant potential for expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation”, the Prime Minister’s Office said.

Training with China in Xinjiang

Meanwhile, the Pakistani and Chinese armies began a joint training exercise, “Karakoram 2026”, in China’s Xinjiang region on Wednesday, Dawn reported. The opening ceremony was held at a training base in Korla, according to the official media account of China’s armed forces.

The two sides exchanged counterterrorism experience, and Pakistani troops observed some Chinese weapons and equipment. China’s defence ministry spokesman, Colonel Chen Xi, said the exercise would focus on “joint anti-terrorism clearance operations at high altitudes”, including drone operations, target search and firing on the move, long-range sniping, and joint command and live-force drills.

In September, the two countries held a joint patrol at the Mantika Pass, at about 4,700 metres near the Khunjerab top in Hunza.

Why it matters

In a single day, Pakistan strengthened security links with two major powers. Moscow’s praise for the sacrifices of Pakistan’s armed forces, and joint counterterrorism training with China, show the respect Pakistan’s fight against terrorism has earned abroad. Read our report on the Pakistan Army’s Fatah-2 missile test.

This article draws on reporting by The Express Tribune, Dawn and ISPR.