The United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s Ambassador to Washington Yousef Al Otaibahas confirmed that the Gulf state is mediating talks between India andPakistan to help both countries reach a “healthy and functional”relationship.

According to Al-Jazeera, top intelligence officers from both South Asiancountries held secret talks in Dubai in January to bring down militarytensions over the issue of Kashmir.

While having a virtual discussion with Stanford University’s HooverInstitution, the UAE envoy said that his country has played a role inbringing the escalations down and creating a ceasefire.

“They might not sort of become best friends but at least we want to get itto a level where it’s functional, where it’s operational, where they arespeaking to each other,” he said.

The relations between Pakistan and India have been strained since August05, 2019 when New Delhi abrogated Article 370 and stripped Kashmir of itsautonomous status. Following that, Pakistan downgraded its diplomatic tieswith India and suspense of bilateral trade.

After a long period of hostility in February 2021, a special hotlinecontact was established between the Director Generals of MilitaryOperations (DGMO) of Pakistan and India in a bid to defuse the volatilesituation along the Working Boundary (WB) and the Line of Control (LoC).

According to the statement by Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR), theDGMOs mutually agreed to undertake sincere measures to improve the existingsituation ensuring peace and avoidance of hardships to the civilians alongthe borders.

ISPR said that the two sides reviewed the situation along Line of Control(LOC) and all other sectors in a free, frank and cordial atmosphere.

In the interest of achieving mutually beneficial and sustainable peace, thetwo DGsMO agreed to address each other’s core issues and concerns whichhave propensity to disturb peace and lead to violence, ISPR stated.

Both sides agreed for strict observance of all agreements, understandingsand cease firing along the LOC and all other sectors, with effect frommidnight 24/25 February 21.

The both sides reiterated that existing, mechanisms of hotline contact andborder flag meetings will be utilized to resolve any unforeseen situationor misunderstanding, ISPR statement continued.

Pakistan DGMO expressed commitment to peace but indicated that if suchaggressive actions continue, same will be effectively responded which willhave detrimental effects on peace and tranquility along the LOC.