BY Itrat Bashir
Home Secretary Theresa May has said that the UK may soon send its team to Pakistan to assist the Pakistani immigration authorities in formulating a more effective mechanism to check illegal migrations from the country.
She expressed these views during a meeting with Pakistani Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan who was in the UK on an official visit. The two leaders discussed a host of issues ranging from cooperation in counter-terrorism, illegal immigration, organised crimes, counter narcotics, money laundering, the Dr. Imran Farooq murder case and other issues of mutual interest.
Discussing the issue of illegal immigration, the Interior Minister while highlighting various measures taken recently against illegal human trafficking, observed that Pakistan acknowledges the concerns of European countries regarding illegal migrations and is following zero-tolerance policy in this regard and considers it an inhuman exploitation of deprived and poor tiers of the Pakistani society by the human trafficking mafia.
The British Home Secretary appreciated various efforts being made by the Government of Pakistan, especially the policy followed vis-à-vis returnees from UK.
Expressing satisfaction over the state of Pak-UK bilateral relations, the Interior Minister underscored the need for taking the bilateral relationship a notch higher by enhancing mutual cooperation in all possible areas in order to further tap the existing potential for cooperation between the two countries.
In response, the British Home Secretary underlined the importance of regular exchange of views on security cooperation and other areas.
Nisar Khan remarked that such high level visits provide momentum to the efforts aimed at further strengthening bilateral relations and enhancing mutual cooperation.
At the outset, the Home Secretary expressed her condolences over the loss of precious lives as a result of terrorist attack in Lahore. She also appreciated Pakistan’s efforts in fight against terrorism and assured Britain’s support to Pakistan in this regard.
Recalling the law and order situation back in 2013, the Interior Minister told her counterpart that as a result of continuous efforts by our armed forces and law enforcement agencies, the security situation has significantly improved. The government remains fully committed to denying space to these desperate elements to target innocent citizens and further their ulterior terrorist agenda.
Discussing measures to further increase cooperation in counter-terrorism, it was agreed that a joint team comprising of British counter-terrorism experts, NACTA and officials from the Pakistani Ministry of Interior would be constituted and the UK would help in further strengthening of Joint Intelligence Directorate by sharing of expertise and knowledge.
On the issue of organised crimes, the Interior Minister said that Pakistan looks towards UK for greater cooperation in dealing with organised crimes and fighting the menace of drug trafficking in the region. “Lack of agreement or treaty on extradition between the two countries will not in any way deter Pakistan from cooperating with the UK in targeting and rooting out every form of international crimes,” he added.
The Minister also took up with his British counterpart the issue of visas for students, officials and business community of Pakistan. He said that Pakistanis intending to travel to Britain are facing extreme difficulties and inordinate delays in the acquisition of visas. The businessmen of Pakistan are particularly feeling the brunt of this tightening of visa regime, he pointed out.
Theresa May assured the Interior Minister that the Home Department will work with the Pakistan High Commission in London and the Authorities in Islamabad in addressing issues related to visas.
Ongoing cooperation between the investigation agencies of the two countries in money laundering cases and the Dr. Imran Farooq murder case also came under discussion. It was agreed that the investigation agencies from the two countries will visit each other’s country to carry forward the investigation in an independent and transparent manner and in line with the respective laws of the two countries.
