Pak jitters draws UAE closer to India

January 26, 2017 19:15

Rajeev Sharma tells us: Here's an explainer of the usefulness of the standard lip service expression of resolute opposition to terrorism 'in all its forms and manifestations' wherever committed and by whomever that finds a mention in the India-UAE joint statement.

Why should this expression be important specially when Pakistan itself, with its well known track record of exporting terrorism, uses this phrase in almost all its diplomatic outreaches with foreign countries?

Yet, it has its significance.

When the UAE joins India in saying this and voicing disapproval of countries giving religious and sectarian colour to political issues and that it is the responsibility of all States to control the activities of the so-called non-State actors, it is important because the UAE has traditionally had very close relations with Pakistan.

In fact, the UAE had supported Pakistan militarily in the 1971 India-Pakistan war.

The UAE is making such statements because of its mortal fear of spread of radicalisation within the Emirates, knowing well that Pakistan is a major source of the spread of radicalisation.

The 'T' word scores big in the India-UAE joint statement released on the conclusion of Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan's India visit.

The two sides had an intensive discussion on terrorism and counter terrorism which is evident by the fact that nine of the 62 points in the joint statement are devoted to this issue.

Four terrorist attacks find specific mention in the document; two of these of last year (on the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot in January 2016 and on the army base in Uri in September 2016) while the other two being more recent happenings in Afghanistan (the terrorist attacks in Kabul and Kandahar on January 10, 2017 in which several UAE diplomats and nationals were killed).

Image: PM Modi General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Adu Dhabi during the 68th Republic Day celebrations at Rajpath in New Delhi on Thursday. Photograph: Kamal Singh/PTI Photo

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