Despite high expectations that the Foreign Minister’s visit to UAE would lead to reversal of the visa ban, the lack of news from Abu Dhabi on the matter has dashed hopes of a quick resolution.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi met his UAE counterpart Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, in Abu Dhabi on 17 December to discuss bilateral concerns – with the visa ban being on the top of the agenda, according to informed sources. However, the absence of any comment on the matter in the press statements issued after the meetings indicate that there has been no agreement on the lifting of the visa ban so far.
A statement issued in Islamabad on Friday mentions “matters pertaining to the welfare of Pakistani diaspora in the UAE,” but contains no specific mention of the visa ban.
Al Jazeera – a Qatar based news organisation – claimed that “no breakthrough has been achieved” on the issue despite the high-level meeting.
