Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 09:53am on 26 Jan 2026,Monday India Global
The United Arab Emirates has dropped its proposal to operate Islamabad International Airport, dealing a setback to Pakistan. The plan had been under discussion since August 2025. Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported that the UAE could not finalise a local partner to manage airport operations. The decision came soon after UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed’s brief visit to New Delhi, where India and the UAE advanced defence cooperation. While no official political reason was cited, the move comes amid shifting Gulf ties and Pakistan’s efforts to deepen defence links with Saudi Arabia. The withdrawal signals reduced confidence in Pakistan’s aviation and governance framework. (PC: HT)
