India-Pakistan tensions: Pakistani and Indian expats in UAE call for peace

Dubai: As fresh military tensions simmer between India and Pakistan, expatriates from both countries living in the UAE are calling for peace, dialogue, and restraint from their governments.

India’s missile attack in retaliation to April’s Pahalgam terror attack and Pakistan's vow to respond have heightened anxieties among Indian and Pakistani expats in the UAE.

Many expatriates said they had been glued to their phones and television screens, watching developments that unfolded early Wednesday. They hope for a swift end to the rising tension.

“Both are nuclear states, they should talk to each other,” said Sardar Shabbir Khan, a Dubai-based Pakistani-American businessman.

Khan urged both governments to show restraint and engage in open dialogue, noting that “all wars end with dialogue—don’t waste lives and destroy economies.” He criticised political grandstanding and military posturing, stressing the value of human life above all.

“A small mistake can destroy everything. Both countries should initiate dialogue to sort out issues as war is not a solution to anything,” Khan added.

For Kuldeep Singh, an Indian plumber in Dubai originally from Pathankot, which is close to the India-Pakistan border, the news hit close to home. He said he called home and checked the situation.

“Things are okay in our village as of now. But schools and colleges are closed. Being in the border area gives us more tension. I just hope the fighting between the two countries will end today itself,” said Singh.

Raja Amjad Kabbir, a businessman based in Sharjah, said: “No war. It’s not a solution as it just creates fear and lead to destruction. Dialogue is the only way forward. The international community should step in to de-escalate tensions,” he urged.

Kabbir also warned of the psychological toll such crises inflict, noting that “mental torture is real—everyone is suffering under this fear.” He also called on social media platforms to act responsibly and avoid fueling panic and misinformation.

Dr Thahira Kallumurikkal, an Indian clinical audiologist, social worker, and author based in Al Ain, also highlighted the mental scars of wars and conflicts.

“Women get more affected mentally,” she said.

“No matter what happens along the borders, people here want peace. Just this morning, I saw a Pakistani patient who shared his deep concern. We spoke about how peacefully we live together here. In a country like the UAE, which hosts people from nearly 200 nationalities, we are living proof that harmony is possible,” she added.

Hassan Khursheed, Dubai-based Pakistan businessman, urged both nations to “avoid war and focus on trade and economic development.” He advocated for open borders and stronger people-to-people ties as a way to build mutual trust and long-term peace.

“The media should not flare up the issue,” Khursheed said. “Facts must be reported, not sensationalism. Both countries should show restraint as innocent lives are always the first to be lost in war.”

Social media groups have also seen several posts urging people to refrain from inflammatory language and focus instead on the shared cultural and familial ties that bind the two communities.