UAE Deputy PM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed urges India-Pakistan de-escalation

The United Arab Emirates, a key diplomatic power in the Middle East, urged India and Pakistan to step back from military confrontation on Wednesday as tensions between the nuclear-armed neighbors reached their highest point in two decades.

UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan called for immediate de-escalation and dialogue, the Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported.

"Diplomacy and dialogue remain the most effective means of peacefully resolving crises, and achieving the shared aspirations of nations for peace, stability, and prosperity," Sheikh Abdullah said in his statement.

The UAE's intervention comes amid growing international concern following yesterday's deadly border clashes between India and Pakistan along the disputed Line of Control in Kashmir and in Punjab.

Sheikh Abdullah emphasized that the UAE would "continue its efforts to support all initiatives aimed at achieving peaceful resolutions to regional and international conflicts" while mitigating humanitarian consequences of the current crisis.

The UAE has maintained strong diplomatic and economic ties with both South Asian nations in recent years. Indian nationals form the largest expatriate community in the Emirates, while Pakistan has historically enjoyed very close military and political relations with the Gulf state.

The current tensions mark a significant deterioration in India-Pakistan relations, which have been strained since the partition of British India in 1947. Both countries claim Kashmir in its entirety but control only parts of it, with the region remaining a flashpoint for conflict.

"The voices calling for dialogue and mutual understanding must be heeded to prevent military escalation, strengthen stability in South Asia, and avoid further regional tensions," Sheikh Abdullah added in his statement.