Pakistan-UAE relations — from another lens

After almost a decade of diplomatic efforts, Pakistan achieved a reset in relations with the UAE—a small but influential Arab country in GCC and the region. The reset was after Army Chief Gen Qamar Bajwa’s relentless lobbying and the charisma and assurances of Prime Minister Imran Khan that Islamabad succeeded to end the ill-will generated during the last decade. The UAE has clear stance: it supports India over Kashmir; (like Pakistan) it backs China on Xinjiang and Hong Kong but (unlike Islamabad), it has joined ranks with Israel over the Palestinian issue. It’s friendly relations with Israel also stems from its threat perception based around the idea of a hostile neighbourhood dominated by Iran. Emirati oil supply security and its importing and exporting Dubai port are facing prospects of stiff competition from potential and actual ports (i.e. Gwadar and Bandar Abbas respectively) making it all the more important to get close to Israel, (yet Pakistan understands Iran-UAE rivalry and its underlying reasons). Third, strategically speaking, CPEC and Gwadar makes the UAE nervous as it might be a new maritime logistical hub. But make no mistake: the UAE equally wants to keep friendly relations with Pakistan; for Islamabad is a rising geo-political power and is pivoting to Euro-Asia—a new multipolar geo-political alignment with its own standardisation parallel to the US-led order. Pakistan is strategic hinge for Russia to access Indian Ocean and gateway to BRI linking Middle East with Euro-Asia hungry markets. Then Islamabad being a nuclear power, it is a reliable security guarantor par excellence in the unpredictable post-Trump US—a fall back option for the UAE. Islamabad’s policy makers need not to be alarmed at burgeoning relations between the UAE and India; realise the strategic, economic and political compulsions of the Emirates; needs to keep close ties with the UAE regardless of latter’s foreign policy choices; and must remember, diplomatic positions evolve from initial terse reactions.