United Arab Emirates (UAE) gears up to host Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and present him with the country's highest civilian award at a time Pakistan is calling for support from Muslim states in regard to the Kashmir conflict.
Modi is set to receive the 'Order of Zayed' in recognition of his role in strengthening Indo-Emirati relations.
In addition to receiveing the award, Modi is scheduled to meet the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss matters of mutual interest during a two-day visit to UAE.
The third visit to UAE by Modi in the last four years is set to take place at a time when Pakistan is attempting to garner support, especially from fellow Muslim countries, against India over the abolition of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and bifurcation of the state.
Just a few days earlier, UAE's Ambassador to India Ahmed Al-Banna stated that UAE had no objections to the Indian government's decision to reorganise Jammu and Kashmir as it was purely an internal matter of India.
Additionally, he was quoted in local media in both countries as saying the changes in Kashmir "would improve social justice and security and further stability and peace".
Indian media reports that the UAE views India's decision to end the special status of Jammu and Kashmir as a measure aimed to reduce regional disparities.
This, however, marks a major setback for Pakistan in their efforts to garner the backing of the Muslim community regarding the Kashmir situation.
The UAE, famous for being the largest business hub in the Gulf region, is a popular destination among Indian tourists. UAE is also currently India's third largest trading partner.
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