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Rome, Moscow Follow Paris Path in Libya

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano meets Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli on Saturday. (AFP)
Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano meets Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli on Saturday. (AFP)
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Rome, Moscow Follow Paris Path in Libya

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano meets Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli on Saturday. (AFP)
Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano meets Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj in Tripoli on Saturday. (AFP)

The number of players active in Libya witnessed an increase on Saturday, only a day after a tour carried out by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian between east and west Libya.

Italian Foreign Minister Angelino Alfano made a surprise visit to Tripoli where he met Libyan Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj and Moscow announced a readiness to persuade Libyan parties to become involved in the political settlement.

The Italian embassy in Libya revealed in two separate tweets the presence of Italian military forces in the north African country.

According to the Italian foreign ministry, Alfano affirmed to Sarraj, during their meeting, that Italy supports the organizational framework detailed in the Skhirat agreement, Presidential Council and the National Accord government.

For his part, Sarraj reiterated his implicit complaint against Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, saying the lack of commitment by some parties destabilizes the political scene. This demands strict measures by the international community against all those hindering the political agreement.

Russian President's Special Representative for the Middle East and Africa and Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov meanwhile relayed to Mohammed Dairi, foreign minister of the Tobruk-based Libyan interim government, Moscow’s support for dialogue among Libyans under the auspices of the UN.

Furthermore, UN Envoy to Libya Ghassan Salamah met on Friday with Mohammed Shukri, who was recently appointed a governor of the central bank, to listen to his financial plan to rescue the Libyan economy.

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Arab World

Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
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Islamabad: 50,000 Pakistanis Are Missing in Iraq

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)
Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala. (EPA)

Pakistan’s Minister of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain sparked controversy when he revealed that 50,000 Pakistanis have gone missing in Iraq over the years.

He urged the Baghdad government to immediately launch a probe into how the Pakistanis entered Iraq to visit religious sites during the month of Muharram, he was quoted as saying by Pakistan’s Ummat newspaper.

Islamabad is investigating how people have traveled outside Pakistan through illegal means, he remarked.

The permanent committee for religious affairs and interfaith harmony has since proposed new policies for trips to holy sites in foreign countries, including Iraq.

In Iraq, the minister’s comments drew mockery and condemnation on social media and sparked renewed debate over illegal workers in the country.

Politician Mishaan al-Juburi urged the government to make a statement over Hussain’s comments, warning that they may impact security and the labor force.

Hussain’s comments coincided with Iraqi police announcing the arrest of six Pakistanis in Baghdad on charges of theft.

Previously, military intelligence also announced the arrest of a nine-member Pakistani kidnapping and extortion gang in Baghdad. The gang had kidnapped foreigners for ransom.

Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ahmed al-Asadi expressed his concern and condemnation over the increasing number of illegal workers in Iraq.

He said his ministry will investigate the disappearance of the Pakistanis.

He confirmed that several tourists, including Pakistanis, have flocked to Iraq in recent days, and many have taken up employment without the necessary legal permits.

He warned that this phenomenon is negatively impacting the national economy.

The ministry will not be lenient in taking the necessary legal measures against the violators, he vowed.

Iraq welcomes all tourists, whether they are here on a religious visit or otherwise, but they must respect local laws and regulations, declared Asadi.

Every year, millions of Shiites flock to religious sites in Iraq’s Najaf and Karbala.