ISLAMABAD, Dec 7: Pakistan will train security personnel of Yemen, and a Memorandum of Understanding will be signed by the two countries next month, says Interior Minister Aftab Ahmed Khan Sherpao.
Talking to Dawn on Tuesday on his return from Yemen, the minister said a draft of the MoU had already been prepared under which the two countries would also share information to wage war against terrorism.
"Prior to the signing of the MoU, the draft would be sent to the cabinet for approval," he said. He said Yemen had requested the Pakistan government to train their police personnel and coastguards. The minister said the assistance of Pakistan Navy would be acquired to train the coastguards.
Mr Sherpao said he had visited Yemen on the invitation of his Yemeni counterpart. During the visit, he also called on the Yemeni President, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and conveyed a message of President Gen Pervez Musharraf to him.
"The president of Yemen invited President Musharraf to visit his country," he said. Responding to a query, the minister said that Pakistani security forces had arrested a number of Yemeni nationals for their alleged involvement in terrorism and links with Al Qaeda.
The minister said the government of Yemen had also showed interest in importing anti-riot equipment from Pakistan. "Following the signing of the MoU, Pakistan would meet this demand of Yemen," he said.
The two sides, he said, also agreed to boost trade between them, the minister said. Mr Sherpao said the government of Yemen had desired that the ongoing process of composite dialogue between Pakistan and India should lead to an amicable solution.
The role of President Musharraf in the war against terror, he said, was also hailed by the Yemeni government. He said the government of Yemen wanted to take advantage of Pakistan's experience in tackling the issues in tribal areas of the country.
