ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned the recent missile and drone attacks on civilian sites in the United Arab Emirates, voicing complete solidarity with the Emirati leadership and its people during what he described as a difficult moment.
The condemnation followed a drone strike on an energy installation in Fujairah that left three Indian nationals injured. Emirati authorities attributed the attack to Iran, although Iranian state media denied any prior plan to target oil infrastructure in the UAE.
In its response, the UAE’s foreign ministry labeled the incident a serious escalation and warned it posed a direct threat to national security, adding that the country reserves the right to respond. Taking to X, Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering support and extended solidarity to Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, stressing that Pakistan stands firmly with the UAE in this challenging time.
The prime minister also underscored the need to uphold the ceasefire in the region, cautioning that renewed hostilities could destabilize an already fragile situation. He urged all sides to prioritise diplomacy and maintain space for dialogue aimed at achieving lasting peace.
The latest attack disrupted a period of relative calm that had followed a Pakistan-mediated ceasefire between Washington and Tehran on April 8, which had paused weeks of intense fighting. Notably, this was not the first strike on Fujairah’s energy infrastructure—an earlier drone attack in March had already impacted operations at the port.
Fujairah holds strategic importance for the UAE’s oil exports, as it connects to the Abu Dhabi Crude Oil Pipeline and allows shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route frequently affected by regional tensions.
Meanwhile, fresh clashes have emerged following efforts by Donald Trump to reopen shipping lanes through the strait under a plan dubbed “Project Freedom.” The initiative comes amid ongoing fallout from the conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran, which has already resulted in significant casualties and disruptions to global trade.
Amid these developments, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reiterated that there is no military solution to the crisis. He noted that diplomatic talks with the US are making progress with Pakistan’s mediation, while warning against further escalation that could deepen the conflict.
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