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Amidst the increasing diplomatic activities between America and Iran, there are reports of tension in the relations between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The UAE’s displeasure over not openly condemning the attacks on Iran now appears to be affecting the Pakistanis.

According to reports, a large number of Pakistani workers are being sent back from UAE. Along with this, the news of UAE demanding return of $3.5 billion loan given to Pakistan has further increased Pakistan’s economic concerns.

More than 20 lakh Pakistanis live in UAE

More than 20 lakh Pakistani citizens live in UAE. These migrants play a big role in Pakistan’s economy and last year they sent more than eight billion dollars to their country. However, in recent times, many Pakistanis have claimed that they were detained by the Criminal Investigation Department of the UAE or instructed to leave the country.

Claim of being deported from the country after being detained

Many Pakistani citizens say that they were kept in custody for several days and were not even informed about any clear charges against them. Later he was sent back to Pakistan through an emergency travel document issued from the Pakistani Embassy.

According to former MP Nadeem Afzal, at least 100 laborers belonging to his district in Punjab province have been deported from UAE in the last few weeks.

Return of people from Shia community increased

Shia community leaders say about 900 people have returned to several Shia-dominated villages in northwestern Pakistan in recent weeks. Islamabad’s Shia cleric Mohammad Amin Shahidi said that his organization has registered about 5,000 families expelled from the UAE. He said, there are many such cases.

Pak government denies mass expulsion

Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry has denied that Pakistani citizens are being expelled from UAE on a large scale. The ministry says that the people who were sent back were involved in some criminal activity or the other. However, it is also being discussed that no such action has been taken against the people of Shia community from countries like Lebanon and Iraq living in UAE.

Experts told possible causes of stress

Michael Kugelman, senior fellow for South Asia affairs at the Washington-based research institute ‘Atlantic Council’, said, the UAE is angry that Pakistan’s relations with Saudi Arabia still remain as cordial. At the same time, he is also unhappy with the steps that Pakistan has taken to bring itself closer to Iran.