ISLAMABAD: United Arab Emirates Crown Prince Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan had a telephonic conversation with Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday evening.
Discussing the ongoing situation between India and Pakistan, he said that the two South Asian neighbors must ease tensions by prioritizing dialogue and communicating with each other.
The crown prince also added that the UAE would support positive relations between the two nations, noting that they shared several historic and cultural affinities that could bring them together.
Earlier in the day, Khan emphasized the necessity of de-escalating the situation between India and Pakistan while addressing a joint session of parliament. He argued it was imperative to resolve all issues through dialogue and collectively work to eradicate poverty in the region.
While he extended an olive branch to New Delhi and said that his country wanted peace and stability in the neighborhood, he also noted that Pakistan’s armed forces could respond to any act of Indian aggression.
Tensions have been brewing between India and Pakistan since a recent suicide attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed at least 40 paramilitary troops.
The two countries have fought full-scale wars and low-intensity conflicts in the past. They have also witnessed several border skirmishes in recent weeks and used fighter jets to settle scores with each other.
With the two South Asian nuclear neighbors inching toward another war, the international community has expressed its concern over recent developments in the region and some of its members, especially the Arab states, have tried to play an active role to defuse the situation.
The crown prince’s phone call was also made in the same context. According to Prime Minister’s Office, he appreciated Khan's willingness to resolve all issues in a peaceful manner during the conversation.
