UAE Crown Prince accorded unprecedented protocol in India
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NEW DELHI: United Arab Emirates’ Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan arrived here on Tuesday as chief guest for India’s Jan 26 Republic Day parade. In a departure from protocol, Prime Minister Narendra Modi received him at the airport.
Mr Modi gave Al Nahyan a warm hug at the tarmac, seen as a signal of developing proximity that could be linked to Pakistan’s refusal to the UAE to join the war in Yemen.
The parade usually showcases nuclear missiles aimed at Pakistan and China as part of India’s surging military hardware, with growing contribution from Israel.
Reports said Al Nahyan, who is also the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE armed forces, is expected to give boost to bilateral ties in the key areas of trade and security.
“It is also significant given that UAE is a close ally of Pakistan, whom India is trying to diplomatically isolate over the issue of cross-border terrorism,” the Indian Express reported.
