UAE Visit of FM Qureshi Holds Novel Significance
Pakistan FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi is on a two-day visit to UAE when the relations have seen a strain over the past few months
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister (FM) Shah Mehmood Qureshi has landed in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on a significant two-day visit on Thursday amid a ban on work and visit visas for Pakistanis.
UAE is the second-largest source of foreign remittances for Pakistan while as many as 1.3 million people from Pakistan have got employed in UAE during the span of the last five years.
Meanwhile, the expatriates send more than $US 5 billion annually which is the backbone of the crippling economy of Pakistan.
Further, the relations between both Arab countries and Pakistan have seen contraction ever since the latter has shifted to the Turkey-Iran-Malaysia bloc which challenges their hegemony in the Muslim world.
Since then, a number of recent steps by Saudi Arabia as well as UAE signify that they are unhappy over Pakistan’s increasing fondness towards other countries and repulsion from those which are partners of them including USA and India.
It started from Imran Khan’s visit to the USA last year where he pointed out atrocities in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK).
The relations between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have remained tough which is conspicuous from various developments that have occurred over the course of the past few months.
Imran Khan did not participate in the Kuala Lampur summit upon pressure from Saudia Arabia but Pakistan has extended its hand to the new bloc as it overlooks pressure from Saudi Arabia.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has paid back the first installment of $US 1 billion of a total of $US 3 billion it borrowed from Saudi Arabia.
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The pressure from the custodians of two holy mosques is bizarre and a sign of strain in the relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
Under these circumstances, the visit of Pakistan’s FM Shah Mehmood Qureshi to UAE holds an unprecedented significance and the outcomes of the visit are much anticipated.
Alongside, the Arab countries are on a spree to accept Israel with UAE being the first one, and want Pakistan to do the same. However, Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled out to take accept any pressure in this regard.
