UAE-Pakistan political consultations focus on stronger bilateral cooperation

Abu Dhabi: The United Arab Emirates and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan convened the second round of political consultations in Abu Dhabi, reaffirming the strength of their bilateral ties and shared regional interests.

The session was co-chaired by Reem Ketait, Deputy Assistant Minister for Political Affairs at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Shehryar Akbar Khan, Additional Foreign Secretary of Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The talks followed a high-level meeting between Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs. That meeting was held as part of the 12th UAE-Pakistan Joint Ministerial Commission.

During the consultations, both sides reflected on recent senior-level engagements and welcomed the continued growth in economic ties, with non-oil trade exceeding $8.6 billion in 2024.

Regional developments—including the situation in the Middle East and discussions at the UN Security Council—were also reviewed. The UAE welcomed Pakistan’s active role as a non-permanent Council member and was briefed on Islamabad’s preparations for assuming the Council presidency in July 2025. Both sides stressed the importance of coordination on global issues and reaffirmed their commitment to promoting peace and stability.

Multilateral cooperation was also discussed, including joint efforts to ensure the success of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the UAE and Senegal.

The consultations were attended by senior diplomats including Hamad Obaid Alzaabi, UAE Ambassador to Pakistan, and Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UAE.

Both sides agreed to maintain regular dialogue to advance shared goals and strengthen cooperation for the mutual benefit of their peoples.