NEW YORK: United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Thursday praised Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace during a meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on the sidelines of the fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2026) at the UN headquarters in New York.
According to state-run PTV News, the two leaders discussed the regional security situation and broader international developments, including Pakistan’s mediation efforts between the United States and Iran and its longstanding role in promoting peace. During the meeting, Guterres appreciated Pakistan’s continued contributions to peace.
On the sidelines of the summit, Naqvi also met Russian Interior Minister Vladimir Alexandrovich Kolokoltsev. The two ministers reviewed the regional security situation and discussed expanding cooperation in counterterrorism, counter-narcotics, cybercrime and law-enforcement training, according to Pakistan’s interior ministry.
They also explored the possibility of conducting joint police exercises and strengthening coordinated efforts against terrorist networks operating across the region, particularly in Afghanistan.
Both sides agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between their respective interior ministries to institutionalise bilateral cooperation. The ministers also reviewed progress on decisions taken during their previous meeting, while Naqvi invited his Russian counterpart to visit Pakistan.
During the meeting, Naqvi said more than 25 terrorist organisations were active in Afghanistan, stressing that eliminating extremist groups was a shared responsibility that required coordinated international efforts.
Earlier this week, Naqvi also held talks with Chinese Minister of State for Public Security and Head of the Special Service Bureau Ling Zhifeng. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in counterterrorism, border management, combating irregular migration and counter-narcotics efforts.
Addressing the UN Chiefs of Police Summit, Naqvi called for stronger international cooperation to counter transnational security threats, saying the world faced common challenges that extended beyond national borders.
He identified terrorism, organised crime, cybercrime, drug trafficking, human smuggling and money laundering as major threats confronting countries worldwide, warning that no nation was immune from them.
“These threats affect all of us. No country is safe from them. And no country can deal with them alone,” Naqvi said, stressing that international cooperation was more important than ever.
He urged countries to enhance coordination among their law-enforcement agencies through greater trust, rapid information sharing, mutual support and stronger institutional partnerships.
Highlighting the growing role of technology in crime, Naqvi said criminals were increasingly using advanced technologies, making it essential for law-enforcement agencies to modernise their capabilities.
“Technology is changing very fast. Criminals are using new technology to commit crimes. So we must also use modern technology to prevent them,” he said.
Naqvi also emphasised the need to improve police training, enhance officers’ skills and make greater use of innovation to effectively tackle emerging security challenges.
Concluding his address, the interior minister thanked the United Nations for providing a platform for global cooperation and urged participating countries to exchange successful experiences and develop new ways of working together.
He said the UN had brought countries together with a shared objective: “To make our countries safer, to protect our people and to strengthen peace and security.”