New Delhi

In a goodwill gesture, Egypt has decided to release two Indians, languishing in jails in the African country for 16 and 22 years, under the transfer of sentenced persons agreement between the two countries.

This was conveyed by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el- Sisi to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their talks yesterday, spokesperson in the External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup said.

India had requested Egypt in December 2014 to release the two Indians as per provisions of the sentenced persons pact.

“Sisi in a goodwill gesture, agreed to the release of two long-term Indian prisoners in Egypt who had been in jail for 16 and 22 years. They will be extradited to India under the transfer of sentenced persons agreement,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.

He said there were certain charges against the two Indians as they served long prison terms and that New Delhi never questioned the judicial process. Swarup said the two Indians are being sent back as per modalities of the sentenced prisoners agreement.

During the talks, Modi also thanked Sisi for attending the India Africa Forum Summit, asserting that without Egypt the Summit would have been “incomplete” as the two leaders agreed to take the bilateral ties to a “much higher and broader level”.

Sisi also sought closer cooperation with India in the political, economic security and defence fields. There was a discussion on the situation in middle wast and need for counter-terrorism efforts.

The Prime Minister said we must isolate all forms of terrorism and in this context he referred to the need to finalise the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism.

Modi also talked about need to work unitedly to obtain permanent seats in the UN Security Council for India and Africa.

Referring to Indian investments, the Egyptian President invited more joint ventures in his country.

“He referred to the new Suez canal as a complete corridor of integrated development and said that numerous industrial zones in Egypt would be very attractive to Indian businesses,” said Swarup.

PTI