Pakistan and three European states agree on new migration strategy

Pakistan and three European countries have agreed to strengthen cooperation against illegal immigration, human smuggling and transnational crime, endorsing a proposal to expand legal migration pathways as a means to curb irregular flows, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Thursday.

According to the report, the understanding was reached during a four-nation conference in Rome attended by Pakistan’s Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi and his counterparts from Italy, Spain and Greece.

The meeting brought together Mohsin Naqvi, Matteo Piantedosi, Fernando Grande-Marlaska and Athanasios Plevris for detailed discussions on coordinated responses to irregular migration affecting Europe and transit countries alike.

During the talks, the Pakistani interior minister proposed promoting legal pathways for migration to discourage human smuggling and prevent dangerous, unlawful journeys.

The proposal received unanimous support from the three European ministers, who agreed that a comprehensive and coordinated strategy was essential to tackle illegal immigration at every level.

The European ministers praised what they described as Pakistan’s effective measures against irregular migration, noting a reported 47 percent reduction in illegal immigration cases linked to Pakistan.

They commended Islamabad’s enforcement actions, enhanced border controls and crackdowns on trafficking networks, describing the progress as significant in addressing a challenge that has strained European states in recent years.

The four countries agreed to adopt a joint policy framework covering illegal immigration, human smuggling and narcotics trafficking, areas identified as interconnected threats requiring cross-border cooperation.

The conference emphasised that closer intelligence sharing, operational coordination and legal cooperation would be central to dismantling organised crime networks exploiting migrants.

It was also decided that individuals involved in serious crimes would be repatriated from Europe to Pakistan, where they would face legal proceedings in accordance with Pakistani law.

Another key outcome of the Rome meeting was the decision to convene the next ministerial session in Pakistan later this year, underscoring a sustained and institutionalised dialogue on migration management.

Speaking at the conference, Mohsin Naqvi said Europe had been among the regions most affected by illegal immigration and stressed that only a joint mechanism could effectively address the challenge.

He emphasised the importance of shared responsibility between origin, transit and destination countries, arguing that safe and legal migration channels would undercut traffickers and reduce loss of life.

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Italian minister Matteo Piantedosi acknowledged the steps taken by Pakistani institutions to counter illegal migration, describing them as robust and constructive.

Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska praised what he termed exemplary action under Naqvi’s leadership to curb irregular flows.

Greece's Athanasios Plevris also commended Pakistan’s initiatives, expressing support for deeper engagement to manage migration pressures.

The European ministers thanked the Pakistani interior minister for his cooperation and reiterated their commitment to continued collaboration under European Union frameworks.

The meeting also included Pakistan’s Ambassador to Italy Ali Javed, Director General of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Dr Usman Anwar and other senior officials.

Reporter: Asif Jafri