Pakistan and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will soon be signing a security deal to effectively combat the menace of terrorism. Modalities of the deal – which also envisages exchange of criminals – have already been discussed between the two sides and an agreement will formally be signed within a month, Rehman Malik, Interior Minister of Pakistan, told an Iftar dinner here, hours before his departure for Pakistan Monday evening. Pakistan's Ambassador Omar Khan Alisherzai, Consul General Zaigham Uddin Azam, Consul C.A. Saeed Akmal, Community Welfare Attaché Jahangir Mushtaq Virk, Consular Murad Ali, Press Consular Mohammed Jameel, Pakistan International School (English Section), Principal, Mrs. Sehar Kamran and staff of Pakistan Consulate Jeddah were also present. Malik said his meeting with King Abdullah, Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, was very fruitful and would prove to be yet another step in further cementing brotherly ties between the two countries. The Pakistani minister condemned the attack on Prince Muhammad Bin Naif, Assisstant Minister of Interior for Security Affairs. When asked about the fate of the five Pakistani pilgrims detained in Jeddah on charges of drug trafficking, he said that they were innocent and a case against the real culprits was under way in Pakistani courts. Saudi authorities, he said, have given an assurance that no action would be taken against the detained Pakistanis pending full investigations and the court verdict in Pakistan. Apart from that, Malik added, the Pakistani government was making efforts to ensure the release of other Pakistanis languishing in various prisons across the Kingdom. “It is also likely that the Pakistani prisoners will be transferred to Pakistani jails to complete their terms,” he said. About the Sharm El-Sheikh summit between India and Pakistan, the minister accused India of backing out of its commitment and said Pakistan would raise the issue on every forum available. Replying to a question about the situation in Swat and Waziristan, Malik said that Pakistani forces had made considerable progress on that front and hoped that the militants would be annihilated soon. “As for the Baloch rebel leader, Brahamadagh Bugti, we have confirmed reports that he is operating from Kabul. In this regard, we have talked to Afghan authorities and they have responded positively. We want him extradited to Pakistan and meanwhile, have asked Afghanistan to check his activities and after that there has been a considerable improvement in the overall situation in Balochistan”.
