President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday met Somalia’s Minister of Interior Ali Yousuf and reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening the bilateral engagement.

He also witnessed the signing of an agreement abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports between Pakistan and Somalia, the President Secretariat’s Media Wing said in a press release.

The agreement was signed by Hamza Adan Haadoow, Permanent Secretary, Somalia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation and Dawood Muhammad Baraech, Special Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control of Pakistan.

The president noted that Africa was an important part of the world’s geopolitical landscape and that Pakistan sought to strengthen its ties with African states, including Somalia.

“Pakistan values its engagement with Somalia and supports closer collaboration in areas of shared interest,” he added.

President Zardari was informed that this visit by the Somali interior minister was the first bilateral official visit from Somalia to Pakistan in the past 35 years.

The president emphasised that Pakistan remained committed to regional and international efforts against transnational crime and narcotics trafficking.

The broader geopolitical situation and opportunities for bilateral cooperation also came under discussion.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Talal Chaudhry were also present during the meeting.

Other members accompanying the Somali Minister included Sheikhnur Mohamed Hassan, Ambassador of Somalia to Pakistan, and Osman Abdullahi, Deputy Police Chief.

The Somali interior minister expressed his appreciation to the government of Pakistan for the warm hospitality extended to him and his accompanying officials during the visit.

He said that he was in Pakistan on the invitation of the interior minister of Pakistan and conveyed his thanks to the president and the people of Pakistan.

Ali Yousuf also handed over a letter from the President of Somalia to President Zardari, conveying greetings and good wishes, and reaffirming the desire for deepened bilateral ties.

The Somali minister described Pakistan as a reliable partner and brother to Somalia since its independence, recalling the sacrifices made by Pakistani peacekeepers during UN missions in Somalia in the 1990s, where Pakistani personnel laid down their lives while serving under the United Nations flag.

During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in law enforcement and criminal justice.

Discussions included the feasibility of negotiating a bilateral extradition treaty and the legal frameworks governing extradition in each country.

The possibility of initiating discussions on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters and the transfer of sentenced persons was also explored.

The two sides further discussed cooperation in counter-narcotics efforts, including collaboration against drug trafficking and organised crime, information and intelligence sharing, as well as capacity building and training of personnel.

The president was informed that Pakistan had offered assistance from the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), in the fields of advanced identity management, civil registration and secure documentation systems, as well as in providing training to the Somali police force.