*ISLAMABAD: Pakistan seeks clear and unambiguous stance from the Gulf countries over Occupied Kashmir as the key Gulf foreign ministers arrived in Pakistan over the growing public resentment over the issue. *
Pakistan has requested Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) to take a ‘clear and unambiguous’ position on the Kashmir dispute at a time when people of Pakistan and Kashmiris expect a ‘strong support’ from the Muslim world.
The development came amid concerns that key Muslim countries including Saudi Arabia and UAE have so far given a muted reaction to India’s illegal annexation of disputed Jammu and Kashmir region.
Against this backdrop, Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir and UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan on Wednesday together visited Islamabad in an unprecedented move, seen by many as an effort by the two key Arab countries to reassure their support to Pakistan.
Both leaders held formal talks at the foreign office with Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and then detailed discussions with Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The official handouts released by both the Prime Minister Office and foreign ministry said the situation in Indian Occupied Kashmir was the major focus.
The purpose of Saudi and UAE top diplomats visit was to offer Pakistan their help in defusing tensions with India and to pacify the public anger in Pakistan over Arab countries’ apparent muted reaction to Modi’s abrogation of special status of Jammu and Kashmir.