The sudden talks and unexpected agreements between India and the UAE have become a source of concern for Pakistan because it is now losing support from Muslim countries. In my view, the numerous agreements and initiatives undertaken by UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed to strengthen relations with India have sent a message to the world that Pakistan is becoming isolated from Muslim nations. Prime Minister Modi himself broke protocol to meet him, sending a diplomatic message to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia had already distanced itself from Pakistan, and now the UAE is also moving away.
The truth is that the growing relationship between India and the UAE will impact not just the two countries, but also various sectors in Pakistan. In the last week of December 2025, President Nahyan visited Pakistan. With the UAE President visiting India, Pakistan is bound to face pressure. Furthermore, the Islamic NATO will also be affected. Relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey are already tense. Pakistan is at the center, making it unlikely for the Muslim Brotherhood’s claims to gain traction. Historical memories of the Ottoman Empire also increase friction between the two sides. Therefore, it is difficult to predict how successful the “Islamic NATO” will be.
Prime Minister Modi has already exposed Pakistan on terrorism, and the message emerging from the UAE President’s visit to Delhi indicates that UAE’s defense partnership with India has increased. India and the UAE have solidified bilateral defense and security cooperation into a broad strategic partnership. The UAE also seeks to reduce its dependence on the United States. Encouragingly, India and the UAE have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance a structural framework for strategic defense collaboration. This highlights that the reality regarding Operation Sindhur and Pakistan’s difficulties is clear to everyone.
The world has witnessed a rapid improvement in India-UAE relations. Once limited to oil and trade, these ties now extend to politics, security, investment, and diplomacy. The India-UAE partnership aims to reach $200 billion in shared trade by 2032 in sectors including defense, AI and digital cooperation, food security, space, energy, infrastructure development, and investment. These new agreements have benefited both countries and clearly impacted Pakistan. Pakistan has now lost credibility among Muslim nations. While countries like the U.S., France, Russia, Australia, and Germany stand ready to provide India with advanced defense weapons and technology, Pakistan receives little attention. Pakistan feels that if the UAE aligns with India, no one will pay attention to it, making its frustration understandable.
Historically, India and the UAE have had longstanding ties. A large Indian workforce contributes significantly to the UAE’s economy. Indian laborers, engineers, doctors, and businesspeople have been supporting the UAE’s development for years. Following PM Modi’s visit, bilateral cooperation has entered a new phase. High-level visits and growing trust followed, and the UAE now sees India not only as a trade partner but also as a strategic friend.
After the new agreements, taxes on several goods have been reduced, making it easier for Indian companies to sell in the UAE. Pharmaceuticals, clothing, grains, jewelry, and tech services are exported from India to the UAE. Simultaneously, the UAE is investing in roads, ports, startups, and digital projects in India, strengthening India’s economy and creating new employment opportunities.
Both India and the UAE maintain a firm stance against terrorism, and the UAE has repeatedly supported India on this issue. The UAE now recognizes that terrorism is a threat not just to one country but to the world as a whole, which is why it stands alongside India. This has become a source of concern for Pakistan. Countries in the Gulf that were once considered close to Pakistan are now developing warm relations with India as well. Pakistan long assumed that Gulf countries would support it on religious grounds, but over time, countries like the UAE have shown that economic benefit and stability take precedence.
Years ago, Pakistan received open support from Gulf countries on the Kashmir issue, but now the UAE and others appear neutral on this matter. This shift is a major setback for Pakistan, which has continued to raise the issue on international platforms. Foreign funding to Pakistan has decreased, harming its fragile economy. India has strengthened its diplomacy over time, whereas Pakistan has failed to evolve beyond religious hatred and terrorist policies, falling behind in foreign policy.
Pakistan now needs to reform its economy and establish balanced relations with neighboring countries. Through its progress, India has proven its significance, while Pakistan, trapped in its cycle of promoting terrorism, religious violence, and internal conflicts, reacts with envy and distress upon seeing India’s advancement and the strengthening of India-UAE relations.
