Pakistan and Sudan Agree to Security and Cybercrime Partnership
Pakistan and Sudan have agreed to sign a memorandum of understanding to strengthen cooperation in combating cybercrime, the Ministry of Interior said in a statement on Saturday. The decision was reached during high-level diplomatic talks held at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi hosted the visiting Sudanese Interior Minister, Lt Gen Babiker Samra Mustafa Ali, for comprehensive delegation-level discussions aimed at bolstering bilateral ties. Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry also attended the meeting to contribute to the strategic dialogue.
The latest diplomatic engagement highlights a mutual desire to expand institutional collaboration between the two nations. Both governments are focusing on internal security, administrative efficiency, and technical support. Officials from both sides emphasized the importance of sharing specialized knowledge to address modern security threats.
How Pakistan Will Assist Sudan with Cybercrime and Police Training
During the formal talks, the Sudanese minister stated that his country wanted to benefit from the expertise and experience of Pakistan in tackling cybercrime. Modern digital offenses present complex challenges for law enforcement agencies globally, requiring advanced technical skills and specialized investigative frameworks. Pakistan has developed institutional capabilities in tracking and prosecuting digital crimes through specialized police units and federal investigation structures.
Expanding beyond digital security, Minister Mohsin Naqvi confirmed that Pakistan was ready to extend all possible support to Sudan in peace-building and reconstruction. He specifically offered to provide professional training to Sudanese police officers. This training aims to enhance the operational readiness and investigative capacity of law enforcement personnel in Sudan as the country works toward institutional stability.
The Role of Nadra in Sudanese Civil Registration
A major component of bilateral cooperation involves identity management and civil registration systems. Pakistan's National Database and Registration Authority, commonly known as Nadra, has already played a significant operational role in Sudan. Briefing his Sudanese counterpart, Naqvi outlined the concrete results of this technological partnership. With Nadra's cooperation, 36 million citizenship cards, 9 million national identity cards, 18 million birth certificates, and 500,000 death certificates have been issued in Sudan.
Building on these achievements, Naqvi confirmed that Nadra was ready to continue supporting Sudan's civil registration process. Robust civil registration infrastructure remains essential for governance, security, and the delivery of public services. The ongoing transfer of database management expertise represents a cornerstone of technical assistance between the two states.
Resolving Visa and Healthcare Access for Sudanese Citizens
Practical humanitarian and administrative issues also featured prominently during the ministerial discussions. In response to a query from the Sudanese minister, Naqvi ordered the immediate resolution of visa issues faced by married Sudanese women in Pakistan. Bureaucratic hurdles often complicate family life for binational households, making swift administrative intervention necessary to ease travel and residency concerns.
Additionally, discussions touched upon humanitarian assistance and medical access. Naqvi stated that Sudanese citizens could access medical facilities in Pakistan, with every possible facility provided in the health sector. This arrangement offers an important avenue for patients seeking specialized medical treatments unavailable locally.
High-Level Diplomatic Engagements in Islamabad
The interior ministry talks formed part of a broader diplomatic visit by the Sudanese delegation to Islamabad. On Friday, the Sudanese minister met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss ways to enhance bilateral cooperation on defense and security matters. Military diplomacy provides a vital channel for aligning strategic interests between partner nations.
Earlier in the week, on Thursday, the visiting minister held a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. During that encounter, the Sudanese official commended Pakistan's support on international forums for efforts to restore peace and security in Sudan. The Sudanese minister described Pakistan as a brotherly country and said Sudan attached great importance to cooperation with it in all fields, expressing gratitude for consistent backing from Islamabad.
