ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi called on Iraqi ambassador Dr. Ali Yasin Mohammed Karim on Friday to discuss the matter of non-issuance of visas to Pakistani pilgrims for Arbaeen.
Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan, Dr. Faisal, shared the specifics of the meeting on Twitter, “FM met Ambassador of Iraq in Pakistan to share his concerns over non-issuance of visas to Pakistani Zaireen, aspiring to visit Iraq for Arbaeen,” he tweeted.
The Iraqi representative assured of “maximum cooperation from Iraqi side for issuance of visas in transparent manner,” FO spokesperson notified.
During the meeting, FM Qureshi stressed to ease the entire process of visa applications while expressing his concern over the reports of non-issuance of Iraqi visas to Pakistani pilgrims.
In this regard, given requirements and the procedure related to acquiring visa should be updated on the website as well, he added.
As a response, the Iraqi ambassador asserted to extend full cooperation from embassy’s side about the matter at hand.
FM met Ambassador of #Iraq in #Pakistan to share his concerns over non-issuance of visas to Pakistani Zaireen, aspiring to visit Iraq for Arbaeen. The Ambassador assured FM of maximum cooperation from Iraqi side for issuance of visas in transparent manner . pic.twitter.com/qaVJcslck7
— Spokesperson 🇵🇰 MoFA (@ForeignOfficePk) October 19, 2018
Few days earlier, Foreign Minister Qureshi had a telephonic conversation with his Iranian counterpart Javad Zarif to discuss the situation following abduction of Iranian guards near Pakistan-Iran border point of Mirjaveh.
READ MORE: 14 Iranian security troops kidnapped on southeastern border
Expressing his serious concern on the incident, Qureshi said such incidents are handy work of their common enemies unhappy with existing close and friendly relations between the two countries.
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment not to allow anyone succeed in such malicious efforts.
