India, UAE sign currency swap deal; seek to forge partnership in new areas at JCM
Abu Dhabi, Dec 4 : India and the UAE Tuesday signed two agreements, including one on currency swap, as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held exhaustive discussions with her counterpart Abdullah bin Zayed to step up bilateral cooperation in areas like security, defence, counter-terrorism, trade and energy.
Swaraj, who arrived here on Monday on a two-day visit, was received by Abdullah ahead of the UAE-India Joint Commission Meeting here.
"Advancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership...EAM @SushmaSwaraj & Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan co-chaired 12th India-UAE #JCM. Held exhaustive discussions on cooperation in energy, security, trade, investments, space, defence & consular, among others," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted.
This is the 12th session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting for Economic and Technical Cooperation.
"Institutional mechanisms guiding the multifaceted cooperation...Two documents signed during the visit of EAM @SushmaSwaraj to #UAE : Agreement on Currency Swap and MoU for Development Cooperation in Africa," Kumar tweeted.
Currency Swap is such a pact between two countries that allows trading in their own currency and payments to import and export trade at pre-determined exchange rate without bringing in a third benchmark currency like the US dollars.
The second agreement would enable both sides to undertake development projects in Africa.
"Reinforcing the strong bonds of friendship...The ministers looked forward to continuing the trend to strengthen & seek partnership in new areas," Kumar tweeted.
Later, an MEA official said the two leaders discussed several areas of mutual interests including defence, security, counter-terrorism, trade, economic, energy, science and technology, and civil aviation among others.
They identified several new areas of cooperation, the official said.
Following the meeting, the two leaders signed and adopted the agreed minutes of the JCM, Kumar said. Swaraj also called on Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Both the leaders expressed satisfaction at the pace of the bilateral relations in a range of areas, attesting to the two countries comprehensive strategic partnership, Kumar said.
With nearly USD 50 billion bilateral trade, the two countries are one of the largest trade partners for each other and have made robust investments bilaterally. The UAE is the sixth-largest source of Indian oil imports and hosts a 3.3 million-strong Indian community.
Swaraj and Abdullah also jointly inaugurated a digital interactive museum showcasing the life, works and philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and the founder of modern UAE Shaikh Zayed.
The Gandhi-Zayed Digital Museum, which will promote peace, tolerance and sustainability, is part of the celebrations by the two countries to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi and centenary celebrations of the birth of Shaikh Zayed.
Later in the evening, Swaraj interacted with the Indian community and appreciated their contribution in enhancing relations with the UAE.
UAE hosts a 33 lakh-strong Indian community the largest number of Indians outside India.
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Former Pak PM Imran Khan arrested in protest case hours after bail in alleged corruption case
Islamabad (PTI): The chances for the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan vanished after he was arrested in a protest case hours after getting bail in a case of alleged corruption, a media report said on Thursday.
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday granted him bail in the second Toshakhana case related to the purchase of an expensive Bulgari jewellery set at a throwaway price, igniting hopes of his release.
However, hours later, Rawalpindi police arrested him late at night in connection with a case registered at New Town Police Station on terrorism and other charges.
The police alleged that Khan, while imprisoned in Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi, had called for a protest in Rawalpindi on September 28.
Dawn newspaper quoted a police spokesperson as saying that Khan had been detained in the case filed on September 28 and a team has been tasked to probe the charges.
The charges include violations of the Anti-Terrorism Act, defying the government ban on public gatherings, obstructing police duty, damaging police vehicles and endangering public safety.
Even before the formal arrest in the case, federal information minister Atta Tarar doused the idea of his release by saying that Khan was wanted in eight cases related to May 9, 2023 violence and should secure bail before being set free from the jail.
Dawn reported that Khan needs to secure bail in nearly two dozen other cases registered across Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad before being released.
According to Islamabad police, at least 62 cases were registered against Khan in various police stations of the capital while his PTI party said that another 54 cases were registered in Punjab province.
Meanwhile, an accountability court on Wednesday held a hearing on the GBP 190 million case at the Adiala Jail and was informed that Khan and Bushra Bibi have yet to submit responses to the questionnaires issued to them.
The court granted Bibi’s request for an exemption from court appearance on medical grounds and adjourned the hearing till November 22.
Separately, the Lahore High Court dismissed a plea by Khan’s sister, Noreen Niazi, seeking bail for her brother in all cases against him in Punjab and Islamabad.
An assistant attorney general presented a report to the court, stating that 62 cases had been registered against Khan by the Islamabad police. After going through the report, Justice Farooq Haider turned down the request, observing that bail petitions must be filed personally by the suspect.
Dozens of cases have been registered against Khan since losing power in April 2022. His party maintained that all cases were politically motivated.
