ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Senate chairman Sadiq Sanjrani postponed a trip to the UAE following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Abu Dhabi earlier this week, his office said in a statement on Saturday night.
Sanjrani was scheduled to travel to the emirates from August 25 to 28, but hours after PM Modi was honored with the “Order of Zayed” – the UAE’s highest civilian award – He announced his decision to postpone the visit.
“Pakistan strongly supports the freedom movement of Kashmiri people, while the Modi government is subjecting Kashmiri Muslims to extreme oppression and a curfew is imposed (in Indian administered Kashmir),” excerpts from the statement read.
“Under the given circumstances, a visit to the UAE would hurt the sentiments of Kashmiri mothers, sisters and old people. So the chairman canceled the visit of a parliamentary delegation,” it added.
On August 5, PM Modi’s government revoked Article 370 of the Indian constitution which accorded a special status to India-administered Kashmir.
The move generated widespread anger in Pakistan and Azad Kashmir.
Pakistan and the UAE enjoy close bilateral ties, with the UAE Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed bin Sultan Al-Nahyan visiting Islamabad in January this year, following two visits by Prime Minister Imran Khan to the UAE last year to seek economic assistance. In December, the UAE announced a $3 billion financial support package for Pakistan.
According to the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis, around 1.6 million expatriates live and work in the UAE and remit more than $4.5 billion to the country every year.
Pakistan’s Senate chairman postpones UAE trip over Indian PM’s visit
Pakistan’s Senate chairman postpones UAE trip over Indian PM’s visit
- Premier Modi was honored with the emirates’ highest civilian award on Saturday
- Pakistan and UAE enjoy close bilateral ties, around 1.6 million Pakistani expatriates in the UAE
