Islamabad, April 7 (ANI) — Senator Mushahid Hussain has defended Pakistan’s decision to repay a multi-billion dollar loan to the United Arab Emirates, framing the move as an act of solidarity rather than a mere financial obligation.
Speaking to Dunya News, Hussain described the repayment as a moral duty rooted in long-standing ties between the two countries. He recalled Pakistan’s contribution to the UAE’s early development, saying Pakistani personnel helped train the emirates’ armed forces during the era of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and argued that these historic bonds justify assisting the UAE in its current difficulties.
Hussain characterized the UAE as “stuck and helpless,” pointing to what he said were large financial outflows and costly regional engagements. He alleged the UAE had made substantial transfers to former U.S. President Donald Trump — a figure he put at $150 billion — and cited the country’s involvement in Yemen and Sudan as additional drains on its resources.
The senator also issued a controversial caution about demographic and geopolitical trends in the UAE, noting that of roughly 10 million residents, about 4.3 million are Indian expatriates. He warned that warmer ties with India could, in his view, create long-term risks to the emirates’ sovereignty and invoked concerns about the concept of “Akhand Bharat.”
The comments come as Islamabad prepares to return $3.5 billion to Abu Dhabi, reportedly before the end of the month, after the UAE asked for immediate settlement. Pakistani officials quoted by Dawn described the repayment as a matter of national dignity that must be honored despite the potential economic strain.
Those funds were part of 2019 assistance from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development intended to help stabilize Pakistan’s balance of payments. Islamabad is also working under an IMF programme that requires securing roughly $12.5 billion in rollovers from partners including China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. With central bank reserves near $16.3 billion, officials acknowledge that repaying $3.5 billion would reduce reserves by nearly 18 percent.
Pakistan’s Finance Ministry said on X that it is continuously monitoring and managing external flows to maintain stable foreign exchange reserves while meeting repayment obligations. The senator’s remarks and the government’s statements underscore the balancing act between preserving international relationships and protecting economic stability.
(This report is sourced from a syndicated feed and published as received.)
