India and United Arab Emirates are expected to discuss cooperation on fight against terrorism and organised crime when a senior official of the Gulf country undertakes a visit to New Delhi from Sunday.
Lt Gen Saif Abdullah-al-Shaafar, Under Secretary in the UAE Interior Ministry, will be in New Delhi for four days during which he will hold talks with Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta.
During the talks, issues like terrorism, organised crime and drug trafficking are expected to be high on the agenda. The two sides are also likely to discuss a proposed agreement on transfer of sentenced prisoners, sources in the MHA said on Friday.
A number of terrorists and criminals are believed to be frequenting or staying in Dubai and India has been looking for their handing over for trial.
The UAE government has been lately cooperating in nabbing such elements, few of whom have already been deported. The two sides are expected to discuss security and other aspects related to 1.4 million Indians living in the UAE.
The agenda for the talks was given final touches at a high-level meeting chaired by Patil in New Delhi. Senior officials of the Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and CBI attended the meeting.
{{/usCountry}}The agenda for the talks was given final touches at a high-level meeting chaired by Patil in New Delhi. Senior officials of the Home Ministry, External Affairs Ministry and CBI attended the meeting.
{{/usCountry}}The delegation, led by Al-Shaafar will comprise officials dealing with crime, security and police matters. In March this year, the UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Makhtoum had visited India along with the Interior Minister of that country and met President APJ Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee and the Union Home Minister during which several accords were inked.