Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Washington on Thursday as diplomatic efforts continued to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran, while Pakistan and the US started a new phase of discussions focused on strengthening trade and economic relations.
Naqvi’s visit has drawn attention due to his recent meetings with regional and global leaders as Pakistan works to facilitate communication channels between Washington and Tehran. Before reaching the US capital, he represented Pakistan at the Fifth United Nations Chiefs of Police Summit (UNCOPS 2026) in New York.
The diplomatic engagement between the US and Iran remains uncertain, with both countries facing internal pressures over negotiations. The latest efforts come after months of heightened tensions and military confrontations earlier this year, including US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets.
A US official said diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran were still ongoing as both sides attempted to manage the crisis. The official stated that the US was balancing military pressure with pauses aimed at creating space for diplomacy, while keeping military options available.
US officials said preparations for potential military action were continuing as a precaution, but diplomatic efforts were currently being prioritised. They also rejected reports claiming that new US strikes had already taken place, while noting that the situation remained unstable.
Meanwhile, the USS Abraham Lincoln, deployed in the Arabian Sea, carried out readiness drills on Thursday, including aircraft preparations and training exercises. US officials described the activities as routine measures to maintain operational preparedness amid regional uncertainty.
Naqvi meets Bangladeshi counterpart
During a meeting in New York, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Salahuddin Ahmed agreed to strengthen cooperation against cybercrime and online fraud, according to Pakistan’s interior ministry.
The two ministers also agreed to increase collaboration in other areas of mutual interest, including police training and exchange programmes.
Their discussions also covered the US-Iran tensions and developments in the Middle East. The ministry said Ahmed appreciated Pakistan’s “constructive role” in supporting regional peace efforts.
Naqvi said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir had played a key role in efforts to promote peace and stability in the region.
“We must seize new opportunities to further strengthen our mutual relations,” he said.
Naqvi is currently visiting the United States after representing Pakistan at the UN summit held on July 7 and 8. The event brought together interior ministers, police chiefs and senior law enforcement officials from around the world to discuss global security, peace and cooperation against transnational crime.
During the summit, Naqvi also met United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts towards peace. He further held separate meetings with counterparts from China, Russia and Sri Lanka.
