ISLAMABAD: British Deputy Foreign Secretary Hamish Falconer on Wednesday praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for their role in supporting stability and peace efforts.
He said this during a high-level meeting with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi where the two sides discussed Pakistan-UK relations, regional developments, counter terrorism efforts, illegal migration, institutional cooperation, and police training.
During the talks, Falconer acknowledged Pakistan’s role in promoting dialogue between the United States and Iran, describing Islamabad’s efforts as a contribution toward regional and global peace.
The British minister said Pakistan’s diplomatic engagement had strengthened its position as a contributor to international peace initiatives.
Naqvi highlighted progress under the Upskill Project, saying the programme had improved the capabilities of Pakistani institutions and supported efforts to raise professional standards through international cooperation.
Both sides agreed to broaden cooperation in counter terrorism, tackling illegal migration, institutional development, and law enforcement training. The meeting also addressed concerns over fraudulent student visas, with both countries agreeing to work together against networks involved in visa fraud and exploitation.
The interior minister said Pakistan was taking action against illegal migration networks and human trafficking groups, stressing the government’s commitment to dismantling criminal organisations involved in exploiting vulnerable individuals.
Discussing regional security, Naqvi said terrorist organisations operating from Afghan territory remained a concern and emphasised the need to ensure that Afghan soil is not used for activities targeting Pakistan.
Reaffirming the importance of Pakistan-UK relations, Naqvi said Islamabad valued its longstanding partnership with London and sought to further expand cooperation across multiple areas.
The meeting was attended by federal ministers Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Ali Pervaiz Malik, Talal Chaudhry and Aoun Chaudhry, along with senior officials, including Interior Secretary Muhammad Khurram Agha, British High Commissioner to Pakistan Jane Marriott, and representatives from law-enforcement institutions.
