Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Rahim Yar Khan, Pakistan.
Speaking to CNN-News18, a source said Pakistan is seeking
to mediate between regional powers, as it looks to assert its relevance in Gulf geopolitics.
“The UAE side acknowledged Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach but maintained that any mediation would need alignment with broader Gulf consensus,” the source said, indicating the diplomatic sensitivity around the engagement.
The discussions covered bilateral strategic cooperation, regional security, and coordination on emerging challenges. Both leaders held detailed talks on the escalating situation in the Middle East, including spillover risks, energy security, and threats to maritime routes in the Red Sea and Gulf region, the source added.
“This meeting reflects Pakistan’s desire to act as a facilitator,” the source said, adding that further high-level consultations between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi are expected through secure diplomatic channels in the coming days.
A senior Pakistani diplomatic and military delegation is also scheduled to visit Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates soon.
Another top intelligence source told CNN-News18 that Islamabad’s outreach is part of a broader strategy to maintain influence in the Gulf and project itself as a dependable partner in the region. “The outreach is also seen as an effort to reassure Gulf partners of Pakistan’s reliability amid its internal political situation,” the source said.
