India, UAE ink pacts to widen bilateral ties

NEW DELHI: India and the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday signed two key agreements, including one which will facilitate each other's convicted prisoners to serve the rest of their sentences back home. It will benefit nearly 1,000 Indians languishing in different UAE jails for various crimes.

The other agreement relates to security cooperation. It seeks to enhance cooperation on various issues like combating terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking. The two countries already have an extradition treaty. The two key agreements were signed by UAE deputy prime minister and minister of interior Lt-Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and home minister P Chidambaram.

As per its provisions, any Indian sentenced in the UAE who is to be transferred to India should have a minimum of six months of jail term left and there should not be any pending case against him.