Pakistan signals deeper security cooperation with Bahrain as kingdom marks National Day
Publishing date: 16 December 2025
Published in: Arab News
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Tuesday signaled deeper security and law-enforcement cooperation with Bahrain, as he marked the Gulf nation’s National Day and highlighted expanding collaboration between the two countries.
Naqvi’s comments came as Pakistan seeks to deepen engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), combining security cooperation with a broader push to expand trade, attract investment and pursue preferential or free trade arrangements.
Bahrain hosts a large Pakistani expatriate community, which Pakistani officials frequently cite as a pillar of bilateral ties.
“During a recent visit to Bahrain, both interior ministries agreed to enhance mutual cooperation,” the minister said in a statement.
“Today, we reaffirm our commitment to strengthening the strong bonds of friendship, cooperation and brotherhood with Bahrain,” he added.
Naqvi said Pakistan and Bahrain shared a long-standing relationship rooted in trust and cooperation.
“The leadership of Bahrain, through its visionary approach and effective planning, has made the kingdom a symbol of stability, development and prosperity in the region,” he continued, adding that cooperation between Pakistan and Bahrain had consistently been based on mutual respect and shared interests.
The minister said Pakistan would continue to work with Bahrain to strengthen collaboration across sectors, including internal security, while reaffirming Islamabad’s commitment to promoting regional stability and people-to-people ties.
Naqvi last traveled to Bahrain in late November, where he held talks with Bahraini Interior Minister General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa on regional security, counter-narcotics cooperation, law-enforcement coordination and intelligence sharing, according to official statements released after the visit.
Both sides agreed to enhance cooperation between their interior ministries.
Pakistan has in recent years intensified outreach to Gulf states, viewing closer economic and security ties as central to its long-term stability and reform agenda.