ISLAMABAD, Sept 24: Pakistan and the United Kingdom worked on Tuesday to give a shape to plans for coping with shared threats in a more meaningful fashion and agreed to intensify efforts to combat terrorism, narcotics trafficking, organised crimes and illegal immigration.

Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and British Home Secretary Theresa May signed a memorandum of understanding on ways of countering narcotics trafficking.

The MoU recognises that illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, precursor chemicals and the resultant money-laundering adversely affect security, health, economy and the general welfare of both the countries. It also stresses the need to strengthen international law-enforcement cooperation in combating narcotics trafficking and related crimes.

Mr Nisar and Ms May also signed an implementing protocol under the EU readmissions agreement which will allow the continued dignified return of illegal migrants.

The Chairman of the National Database Registration Authority and the UK Home Office’s Director of Returns signed a procedural agreement to allow biometric checks based on the Nadra database to fast-track the documentation of returnees.

Under the project charter, Nadra will collect data of illegal Pakistani immigrants residing in the UK. A subsequent exercise of their repatriation is expected to help promote legal immigration, including that of Pakistani students.

According to a joint statement issued after a meeting between Chaudhry Nisar and Secretary May, the two sides agreed to improve anti-terror cooperation, setting the vision for counter-terrorism cooperation to 2018. This will be formalised at the next round of Pakistan-UK National Security Dialogue.

The two sides agreed that it was essential to address the root causes of terrorism. “Unless the drivers of radicalisation were tackled, terrorism would always remain,” the joint statement said. They decided to share expertise and details of projects to curb violent extremism.

Ms May spoke about ways the British government used emergency coordination structures in response to crisis and how civilian agencies coordinated on a daily basis. Britain agreed to share expertise on ways of managing security on a day-to-day basis to keep citizens safe.

The UK agreed to continue its support in tackling the scourge of improvised explosive devices, particularly public awareness campaigns, and to share expertise in safeguarding sporting events and aviation security.

Ms May supported the initiative to set up immigration vigilance unit within the Federal Investigation Agency. The two sides agreed that there should be fast-tracked information sharing between the UK’s new National Crime Agency, Home Office and the FIA to prosecute the facilitators of migration crime.

The UK agreed to assist the FIA in increasing its capacity to prevent illegal migration and gather intelligence to be used to prosecute visa agents.

The two sides also agreed to explore the potential of reaching an agreement that would allow deportation of individuals suspected of terrorism.

Ms May said the UK would unveil a new serious and organised crime strategy in October.

The UK’s new national crime agency will become operational next month and work with the law-enforcement partners, the ANF, FIA and FBR, to combat the threat from serious, organised and complex crimes.She recognised the importance of steps taken by the PML-N government, particularly in formulating a national security strategy and new structures to coordinate military and civilian efforts.

Speaking at a joint press conference, Chaudhry Nisar said Pakistan had an important role to play in the pullout of international forces from Afghanistan in 2014.

He said the decision to hold talks with the Taliban had been taken in view of the ground realities at that time.

Although subsequent developments were irritating, the policy could not be reversed because of an isolated incident, he said.

He said the situation would be reviewed on return of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif from the US and any decision for a change would be taken as and when required.

He said it was too early to determine who was behind the church attack in Peshawar, but the government was looking at the matter very closely. “We will pursue them (assailants) and take them to task.”

Chaudhry Nisar said those who had killed foreign climbers had been nabbed within six weeks.

Ms May said Pakistan and the UK shared many interests and their relations were based on mutual trust and respect.

She acknowledged that Pakistan had been in the forefront in combating terrorism and violent extremism and suffered more than any other country in the fight against terror.

When asked if the US drone strikes were not a violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty, she said Pakistan should raise the issue with the United States.

On a question about the case of murder of MQM leader Dr Imran Farooq, she restricted herself to pointing out that the matter was under investigation.