Islamabad, April 7 (ANI) — Pakistan Senator Mushahid Hussain defended Pakistan’s decision to repay its multi-billion dollar debt to the United Arab Emirates, describing the move not as a financial burden but as an act of “brotherly rescue” for a nation he said is currently “stuck and helpless.”
In an interview with Dunya News, Hussain framed the repayment as a moral obligation, dismissing critics and stressing Pakistan’s historical ties with the UAE. He recalled Pakistan’s role in the emirates’ early development and said Pakistani personnel helped train the UAE armed forces, citing long-standing ties since the era of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
“Pakistan took the right decision. Our UAE brothers are in need and helpless. We took loans from them and are repaying them in times of crisis. We have always helped them,” Hussain said.
To explain his depiction of a UAE crisis, Hussain pointed to large financial outflows and regional engagements. He alleged the UAE gave $150 billion to former U.S. President Donald Trump and cited the country’s involvement in conflicts in Yemen and Sudan as drains on its resources, saying these factors left the UAE vulnerable and in need of support.
Hussain also issued a controversial warning about the UAE’s demographic landscape and closer ties with India. Noting that of the UAE’s roughly 10 million people, about 4.3 million are Indian expatriates, he cautioned that warming relations with India could pose long-term risks to the UAE’s sovereignty, invoking the phrase “Akhand Bharat.”
The remarks come as Islamabad prepares to return $3.5 billion in loans to Abu Dhabi, reportedly before the end of the month, after the UAE requested immediate settlement. Pakistani officials, quoted by Dawn, described the repayment as a matter of “national dignity” that takes precedence despite potential economic strain.
The funds were part of 2019 assistance from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development intended to stabilize Pakistan’s balance of payments. Pakistan is also engaged in an IMF programme that requires securing roughly $12.5 billion in rollovers from partners including China, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Current central bank reserves are around $16.3 billion; repaying $3.5 billion would cut reserves by nearly 18 percent, officials acknowledged.
Pakistan’s Finance Ministry posted on X that it is “continuously monitoring and managing Pakistan’s external flows to ensure stable foreign exchange reserves,” as the government seeks to maintain stability while meeting the UAE’s repayment demand. (ANI)
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