Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs Tony Burke held a virtual meeting on Friday to review bilateral security cooperation and discuss key issues of mutual concern. The discussion covered a wide range of topics, with both sides agreeing on the need to strengthen coordination and deepen institutional ties.
A major focus of the meeting was the growing challenge of illegal immigration. Both ministers emphasized the importance of joint strategies, better information sharing, and coordinated action to curb human smuggling networks operating in the region. They reaffirmed their commitment to work closely to dismantle such networks and enhance border security on both sides.
The two sides also explored launching specialized training programs for Pakistan’s police and paramilitary forces, which would help improve operational capabilities in countering modern security threats. Further collaboration between Australia’s security agencies and Pakistan’s National Cyber Crimes Investigation Agency and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) was also discussed, particularly in the areas of cybercrime prevention, digital forensics, and online threat detection.
In a significant development, Pakistan and Australia agreed to establish a Joint Working Group that will focus on expanding cooperation in security, law enforcement, information exchange, and capacity building. This group is expected to streamline communication and accelerate progress on agreed initiatives.
The meeting also touched on sports diplomacy, as both ministers exchanged views on the upcoming tour of the Australian cricket team to Pakistan. Minister Naqvi briefed his Australian counterpart on the comprehensive security measures being prepared for the visiting team. He assured that Pakistan would provide a safe and well-organized environment for the series.
Naqvi extended an official invitation to Tony Burke to visit Pakistan, underscoring the desire to strengthen bilateral engagement and push forward shared priorities.
Australia’s tour to Pakistan in early 2026 is expected to further enhance sporting ties between the two countries. The series will begin with three T20Is from January 30 to February 5, ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka. After the global event, the Australian team will return for a three-match ODI series from March 13 to March 19 as part of the ICC Future Tours Programme 2025–2027. The Pakistan Cricket Board is yet to finalize the venues and complete itinerary, but the tour is widely seen as a positive step in boosting cricket relations and international confidence in Pakistan’s hosting capabilities.
