Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday strongly condemned missile and drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates, expressing full solidarity with the Emirati leadership and people.
On Monday, a drone strike hit an energy facility in Fujairah, injuring three Indian nationals. The U.A.E. government has blamed Iran for the attack and warned it reserves the right to respond. Iranian state TV, however, said the Islamic republic had “no pre-planned program” to attack oil facilities in the U.A.E. and sought to blame the United States.
In his statement, posted on X, the prime minister voiced Pakistan’s support for the U.A.E. and extended solidarity to President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. “Pakistan stands firmly with our Emirati brothers and sisters as well as with the Government of the United Arab Emirates at this difficult time,” he wrote.
Sharif emphasized the importance of respecting the ceasefire, warning that any escalation would undermine regional stability. He urged all parties to preserve diplomatic space and prioritize dialogue to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region.
The drone strikes have dampened hopes for a speedy and permanent end to the Middle East conflict, coming over a month after Pakistan-mediated ceasefire took hold.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the launch of “Project Freedom,” claiming it would facilitate the passage of stranded tankers and other ships through the Strait of Hormuz. According to Trump, the U.S. has destroyed six small Iranian military boats as part of this, with Tehran describing the incidents as a violation of the ceasefire.
Nonetheless, Iran appears committed to resolving the conflict through dialogue. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said Monday’s events showed there was no military solution to the crisis, adding peace talks were ongoing through Pakistan.