FM Qureshi In UAE For Two-day Visit

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi arrived in Dubai, UAE today on a two-day visit to discuss matters relating to the issuance of visas to Pakistani residents among others, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi will be visiting the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 17-18 December 2020, the MoFA said.

During the visit, the Foreign Minister will hold discussions with the UAE leadership on all areas of mutual interest including regional and global issues. The Foreign Minister will exchange views on bilateral cooperation, in particular trade, investment, and the welfare of the Pakistani diaspora. The Foreign Minister will also meet the Pakistani diaspora and interact with local and international media. The UAE is home to the second-largest Pakistani community abroad, it added.

Pakistan and the UAE enjoy historic fraternal relations, rooted firmly in shared history, common faith, values, and mutual respect. High-level visits are an important feature, which not only exhibits cordial ties between the two countries but also accord the leadership an opportunity to give further impetus to strengthening bilateral cooperation on a wide range of issues, the ministry pointed out.

Pakistan’s relations with the UAE and Saudi Arabia have gone sour over the last few months ever since Prime Minister Imran Khan made outreaches to Malaysia.

PM Khan’s move to align itself with the non-Arab Islamic unity forum did not sit well with the gulf states which have since then turned a cold shoulder towards Pakistan.

The alienation further increased when FM Qureshi lambasted the Saudi Arabia-led Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC) for failing to condone the occupation of Kashmir valley.

Army Chief Bajwa visited Riyadh to iron out the differences between the countries.

However, yet again the UAE last month stopped issuing visas to Pakistani residents citing security fears.