Iraq, Kuwait, Saudi work to secure borders post-Daesh

By Ali Jawad

BAGHDAD

Iraq, Kuwait Saudi Arabia are cooperating closely to secure their shared borders after the Daesh terrorist group’s three-year rampage across the region, Iraqi Interior Minister Qassim al-Araji has said.

“The post-Daesh era requires us to firmly secure our borders,” al-Araji said in a Monday address delivered from the Iraqi city of Karbala.

“We are cooperating closely with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait -- along with Jordan -- in this regard,” he added.

This year, the minister said, would see stepped-up security along the borders and enhanced cooperation -- including intelligence sharing -- between states of the region.

Iraqi-Saudi relations have improved since last when Saudi Ambassador to Iraq Thamer al-Sabhan was replaced amid accusations by officials in Baghdad that he was “interfering in Iraq’s internal affairs”.

On the domestic front, meanwhile, al-Araji said that his ministry was now taking step to secure parliamentary polls slated for May 12.

According to Iraq's official electoral commission, some 24 million Iraqis are eligible to cast ballots in next month’s election.