Foreign Ministers of India, Pakistan visit UAE

Our Correspondent

India’s Minister of External Affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar met UAE Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on April 18. UAE Minister of State Ahmed Al Sayegh also attended the meeting.

They discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations, especially in the fields of commerce and health. The countries’ response to Covid-19 and efforts to provide access to vaccines was covered in particular.

According to state news agency WAM, Sheikh Abdullah “praised the co-operation between the two countries to mitigate the impacts of Covid-19”.

Sheikh Abdullah spoke about the historic ties between the two countries and the interest shown to develop and strengthen co-operation in all fields.

Qureshi lauds UAE role in mending India-Pak relations

Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has also arrived in the UAE on a three-day official visit beginning April 17 to hold bilateral talks with the UAE leadership.

Qureshi lauded the UAE’s role in mediating India-Pakistan issues which has led to a ceasefire on the Line of Control (LOC) in Kashmir.

He acknowledged there have been ‘sittings’ in the UAE. “Pakistan has lot of trust and confidence in the UAE as the UAE has been a tested friend of Pakistan for decades. The ruling family members have been very close to Pakistan. We consider UAE leaders friends and well-wishers of Pakistan,” Qureshi added.

“UAE has sizeable number of Pakistanis and the presence of Indians is even higher. Obviously, looking at the interest of peace and stability in the region, it only makes sense that the UAE feels that two players (Indian and Pakistan) in this region, who are estranged, should sit together and talk out their differences,” the Minister said.

He noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s greeting to Pakistan on its National Day and the “toned-down rhetoric” were positive developments.

It is rumoured that the Indian and Pakistani foreign ministers will meet in the UAE capital, but Qureshi told in an interview to a Gulf daily that no such meeting is scheduled.

UAE’s Ambassador to the US Yousef Al Otaiba had earlier said that the UAE is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a “healthy and functional” relationship.