ISLAMABAD: Recognising the severity of migrant smuggling, a regional conference on Friday invited international cooperation essential to combating this serious crime effectively.

To address the pressing issue of migrant smuggling, the Federal Investigation Agency and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs jointly organised a two-day regional conference in collaboration with the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and the European Union (EU) at the Marriott Hotel Islamabad.

Migrant smuggling has emerged as a lucrative criminal enterprise with minimal risks for perpetrators. Exploiting the desperation of individuals seeking better opportunities, smugglers operate within well-organised, transnational networks.

Speaking on the significance of the workshop, Foreign Secretary Syrus Sajjad Qazi emphasised the importance of leveraging regional and international partnerships to tackle the complexities associated with irregular migration. Syrus Qazi stressed the need for a comprehensive approach that ensured safe, orderly, and regular migration while mitigating the adverse effects of irregular migration.

Jeremy Milsom, the UNODC Representative in Pakistan, underscored the urgency of collaborative efforts following tragic incidents such as the capsizing of a trawler off southern Greece in June 2023. The accident claimed the lives of 350 Pakistani nationals. Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Jeremy Milsom reiterated the call for enhanced cooperation among nations to address the challenges posed by migrant smuggling.

The conference, held under the PROTECT: Improving Migration Management and Migrant Protection in Selected Silk Route Countries project, funded by the European Union, aimed to facilitate information-sharing among participating countries and promote victim-centred approaches to combat migrant smuggling.

Philipp Gross, Deputy Head of the EU Delegation to Pakistan, emphasised the pivotal role of regional cooperation in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by human trafficking and migrant smuggling. Gross highlighted the critical routes originating in Pakistan, traversing through Iran and Turkey, and ultimately reaching the European Union, underscoring the necessity of formal and informal cooperation mechanisms to disrupt criminal networks and safeguard vulnerable migrants.

The European Union’s launch of the Global Alliance to Counter Migrant Smuggling in November 2023 reflected its commitment to strengthening international cooperation to prevent and respond to migrant smuggling. The organisers maintained that the regional conference served as a testament to the collaborative efforts of key countries along critical migration routes, aimed at countering this crime while addressing root causes such as poverty and conflict.

Participants engaged in discussions regarding common challenges, best practices in border security, and investigations and explored the feasibility of establishing a regional task force to address migrant smuggling.

In conclusion, Jeremy Milsom stressed the importance of proactive measures in combating migrant smuggling, highlighting the support provided by the European Union in achieving significant milestones in this endeavor. The conference, he emphasised, presented a unique opportunity to forge stronger partnerships and drive meaningful progress in the fight against migrant smuggling.

Published in Dawn, April 27th, 2024