Pakistan-UAE ties remain strong despite speculation: FO

Pakistan had dismissed speculation about any strain in ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), with the Foreign Office (FO) saying relations between the two countries remained strong and unaffected by any external engagements.

Speaking at the weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan and the UAE enjoyed “strong, brotherly” relations based on mutual trust and longstanding cooperation.

“Pakistan-UAE relations are strong, brotherly, built on strong foundations,” Andrabi said, adding that around 2.2 million Pakistanis were living in the UAE and bilateral trade between the two countries stood close to $8 billion.

He stressed that there was “absolutely no question” of any negative developments in ties between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi.

The clarification comes amid recent media reports claiming that the Gulf state had initiated a large-scale expulsion of Pakistani workers, particularly Shia employees, suggesting a possible shift in bilateral relations. Pakistan’s Interior Ministry had earlier rejected the reports.

During the briefing, Andrabi also welcomed recent calls from within India advocating dialogue with Pakistan, describing such voices as a “positive development”.

“We hope that sanity will prevail in India and the warmongering and belligerence witnessed over the past several years will fade away,” he said.