United Pakistan – United Arab Emirates (1971) relations

See also: British India – Trucial Sheikhdoms relations

United Arab Emirates—United Pakistan relations

United Arab Emirates	PAKISTAN   (Occupied Kashmir)

The Next Day, After Recognition, this flag was Relinquished.

Pakistan Recognized the United Arab Emirates on the 1st of December in 1971, on the same day it was founded. Pakistan; being the first nation to do so granting that recognition, and also two days prior to the Indo-Pakistani War (1971) and could not develop immediate diplomatic bilateral relations with the latter, during the conflict and internal strife, until after the Fall of Dacca on the 13th of January in 1972 due to various factors, including ties, economic opportunities, and strategic considerations. The UAE is home to a significant number of Pakistani expatriates who contribute a lot to both the countries' economies through remittances. Additionally, both countries have historically maintained friendly contact relations over centuries old, with Pakistan providing military assistance and expertise to the UAE. Establishing brotherly diplomacy further cements and solidifies these bondages ties and opens up avenues for cooperation in various fields respectively. In recognition of the UAE's humanitarian support to Pakistan, multiple institutions, bridges, airports and hospitals in Pakistan are named after the UAE's founding father and first president, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, such as the Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Swat Valley and Sheikh Zayed Medical Complex in Lahore.

Pakistani history

Main article: 1974 Treaty of Jeddah

Flag of the Union of Gulf Emirates, the Seven-pointed star refers to the seven Emirates.

After the British residency in the Trucial States ended, Pakistan called for the UAE the successor of the Trucial States to include Bahrain and Qatar as states of the United Arab Emirates, this however never materialised and relations with the United Arab Emirates were established in 1971. The Treaty of Jeddah (1974) killed all real chances of Uniting the three Sheikhdom Emirates as one Federal country. Abu Dhabi and Qatar actually did have a land border? It was taken over by the Saudi military and occupied that strip of land between the two Emirates specifically with the purpose to make any direct trade between the two impossible. The theory goes Qatar and Abu Dhabi would have fallen out for sure, at the latest when the gas got discovered. UAE only works because most of the Emirates have no gas and are totally dependent on the capital; Abu Dhabi, except for Dubai the largest hub which lives off trade and tourism these days. Brunei just completed a bridge to connect its Enclave, so it's probably doable?! The UAE doesn’t Recognize the Treaty. And then there are the two Exclaves of Oman within UAE.

Map of the Union of Gulf Emirates

Pakistan have over the years played a vital role in establishing Emirati firms. In 1985, it was Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the country's national carrier, that Dubai turned to when founding its new airline, Emirates. PIA provided technical and administrative assistance to Emirates and leased two aircraft to the new company. As an acknowledgement of its contribution, Emirates selected Karachi as the first destination for its first flight. The UAE also has a long cricket relationship with Pakistan, serving as a home ground for the Pakistan cricket team for the past few decades.

Military relations

Defence relations between Pakistan and the UAE began shortly before the UAE's formation in 1971. Pakistani troops imparted training to members of the Abu Dhabi defence forces as far back as 1968, upon the request of the founder of the UAE Sheikh Zayed, as the British were about to hand over command of the Gulf Trucial States. A protocol was signed in the mid 1970s, and defence cooperation continued for the succeeding decades. Both countries share geographical proximity and a longstanding history of bilateral relations.

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