ISLAMABAD: Following the visit of Saudi Interior Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud bin Nayef to the country last week, Iranian Interior Minister Dr Ahmad Vahidi is all set to visit Pakistan on Monday (today).

According to a brief statement of the Ministry of Interior, during his day-long visit the Iranian minister will hold meetings with Prime Minister Imran Khan and other government functionaries.

During his meetings, the statement said, Dr Vahidi and Pakistani officials will discuss issues related to Pak-Iran border management and exchange of prisoners.

In October last year, both the countries had agreed to form a special committee for effective implementation on an agreement for exchange of prisoners.

The agreement was finalised in a meeting between Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and members of the Iran-Pakistan Parliamentary Friendship Group in Majlis (Iranian Parliament).

Both sides had also discussed suggestions to overcome terrorism and human trafficking and vowed to keep their efforts continue for formation of stable Afghanistan.

Dr Vahidi is visiting Pakistan on the invitation of his Pakistani counterpart who will receive him at the airport.

It is relevant to note here that on Feb 7 the Saudi interior minister during his day-long visit had held meetings with Pakistani functionaries, including Prime Minister Khan.

While welcoming the finalisation of an agreement on the transfer of offenders between Islamabad and Riyadh, PM Khan had expressed the hope that a large number of Pakistani prisoners in Saudi Arabia would be repatriated to the country under this framework.

The prime minister had also condemned attacks by Yemen’s Houthis against Saudi Arabia and reaffirmed Pakistan’s full support to the kingdom’s security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The prime minister stated this during his meeting with the Saudi interior minister.

Saudi Arabia’s cabinet headed by King Salman bin Abdul Aziz had last month reportedly approved the draft of the prisoner exchange agreement with Pakistan under which convicted prisoners will be exchanged between the two countries. The Saudi cabinet had also approved draft agreements on cooperation against crimes and a document to finalise a memorandum of understanding with Pakistan on illicit anti-human trafficking and drugs.

Published in Dawn, February 14th, 2022