Kurdistan Region Interior Minister Rebar Ahmed met with Iraqi National Security Service (INSS) Director Basim al-Badri in Baghdad on Monday, reaffirming the importance of strengthening cooperation between the Kurdistan Region and Iraq's federal security institutions to address shared security challenges.

According to a statement from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), Minister Ahmed congratulated al-Badri on his recent appointment as Director of the Iraqi National Security Service before the two officials discussed ways to deepen operational cooperation, enhance intelligence sharing, and improve coordination between their respective agencies.

The meeting concluded with both sides emphasizing the need to unify efforts in confronting security threats affecting both the Kurdistan Region and the rest of Iraq.

The discussions come at a time when Iraq continues to face evolving domestic and cross-border security challenges, making sustained cooperation between Baghdad and Erbil an increasingly important pillar of the country's security framework. Officials stressed that effective coordination between federal and regional institutions is essential for strengthening border security, responding to common threats, and maintaining regional stability.

Earlier the same day, Minister Ahmed led a Kurdistan Regional Government delegation in separate talks with Iraqi National Security Advisor Qasim al-Aboudi. The meeting focused on Iraq's overall security environment and reviewed progress in implementing the Iraq-Iran security agreement signed in March 2023.

The agreement commits Iraq to strengthening security along its border with Iran and ensuring that Iraqi territory is not used to threaten neighboring countries. Its implementation requires close cooperation between the federal government and the Kurdistan Regional Government, as much of the shared frontier lies within the Kurdistan Region's administrative boundaries.