ISLAMABAD: The tenth meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Joint Working Group on Combating International Terrorism and Other Challenges to Security was held in Islamabad on 16 November 2023. The meeting was co-chaired by Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, Additional Foreign Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Ambassador Sergey Vershinin, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation.
The two sides discussed at length the global and regional terrorist threats, with a particular focus on the situations in Afghanistan, Central and South Asia, and North Africa. The dialogue underscored the complexity of the terrorism landscape and the need for continued vigilance.
The two sides outlined their respective national strategies and measures in combating terrorism. Pakistan and Russia shared their experiences and best practices, highlighting the importance of national efforts in the broader fight against terrorism.
The meeting was part of regular exchanges in the backdrop of Pakistan-Russia bilateral counter-terrorism cooperation. The two sides agreed to strengthen collaborative efforts to effectively combat terrorism, underscoring the mutual benefits of such cooperation.
Discussions on enhancing cooperation in multilateral forums, such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), were particularly fruitful. The two sides resolved to work together in combating financing of terrorism and in other key areas of counter-terrorism.
The two sides also discussed the various forms of radicalization, the spread of terrorist ideologies, and the misuse of information and communication technologies for terrorist purposes. They agreed on the need for comprehensive strategies to counter these challenges.
The meeting concluded with reaffirmation of the commitment of both Pakistan and Russia to continue their cooperation in the fight against terrorism. The sides recognized the importance of their partnership in maintaining regional and global security.The next meeting of the Working Group will be held in 2024.
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From Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russian Federation :
On November 16, Islamabad hosted the tenth meeting of the Russia-Pakistan Joint Working Group on Combating International Terrorism and Other Challenges to Security. It was attended by experts from competent agencies of both states and co-chaired by Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation H.E. Mr. Sergey Vershinin and Additional Foreign Secretary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.E. Mr. Syed Haider Shah.
The two sides shared their national experience in combating terrorism and extremism, exchanged views on terrorist threats at the global and regional levels and reaffirmed their readiness to strengthen constructive counter-terrorism cooperation both on a bilateral basis and in international organizations, primarily at the UN and the SCO.
The meeting also focused on countering radicalization, preventing the use of modern technologies for terrorist purposes, the spread of terrorist and extremist ideology and curbing the financing and other material support of terrorism.
The next meeting of the Working Group will be held in Moscow in 2024 within the agreed time frame.
H.E. Mr. Sergey Vershinin was also received by Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.E. Mr. Jalil Abbas Jilani and had a separate meeting with Additional Foreign Secretary of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan H.E. Mr. Syed Haider Shah. The two sides had a detailed exchange of views on topical international and regional issues of mutual interest with a focus on the situation in Afghanistan, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Ukraine.
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