By Staff Reporter
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United States have agreed to mount joint operations against networks peddling fraudulent visas, aiming to curb illegal immigration through a set of coordinated protocols, officials said on Saturday.
The pact emerged from talks between Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, and Natalie Baker, the American chargé d’affaires in Islamabad, amid broader discussions on strengthening ties between the two nations. The meeting, detailed in a statement from Pakistan’s Interior Ministry, focused on enhancing cooperation in areas of shared concern, including law enforcement training and the refinement of pre-immigration screening processes. “It was decided that joint action will be taken against false and fraudulent visa networks under comprehensive SOPs,” the ministry said, referring to standard operating procedures designed to guide collaborative efforts.
Naqvi, who has positioned himself at the forefront of Pakistan’s campaign against unauthorized migration agents, described the government’s stance as one of “zero tolerance” toward what he called the “agent mafia.” “I am personally supervising action against fraudulent visa networks,” he said, according to the statement. He highlighted recent upgrades to Pakistan’s passport system, incorporating advanced security features through modern technology to render the documents “foolproof” against forgery.
Illegal immigration, Naqvi noted, has evolved into a pressing global challenge, with the United States leading a rigorous enforcement drive against undocumented entrants. “Due to the government’s effective measures, there has been a 47 percent drop in illegal immigration,” he said “There will be no leniency for the elements involved in fraudulent documentation networks.”
The agreement shows ongoing efforts by Pakistan to tighten oversight of travel and migration routes, targeting forged documents and rogue facilitators who enable unlawful journeys. On the American side, Baker emphasised Washington’s view of its relationship with Pakistan as one of “special importance.” “Our priorities are aligned and promoting mutual cooperation will further strengthen relations,” she said.
The dialogue also touched on expanding coordination between the countries’ law enforcement agencies, with a particular emphasis on police training programs to bolster capabilities in combating cross-border crimes. Such initiatives come as both nations grapple with the complexities of migration flows, driven by economic pressures, security concerns and the lure of opportunities abroad. Officials did not provide a timeline for the rollout of the joint operations or specifics on the SOPs.
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