ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have agreed to develop an institutional mechanism to strengthen bilateral relations.

The agreement came at a meeting between Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi and his UAE counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi.

The two sides exchanged views on bilateral relations and promotion of cooperation in various fields and regional issues.

Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have deep, historic and fraternal ties. He said UAE has always supported Pakistan in the hour of trial.

He said about 1.6 million Pakistanis living in the UAE have been contributing to the UAE’s development for the last many decades. He said the Pakistani community in the UAE has a pivotal role in promotion of contacts at public level between the two countries.

The foreign minister apprised his counterpart of the difficulties being faced by the Pakistani community in the UAE and stressed the need for their early resolution.

They also discussed the positive progress made with regard to the establishment of peace in Afghanistan. Shah Mahmood Qureshi said Pakistan is committed to continue its sincere efforts for peace and stability in the region, including the Afghan peace process.

The Foreign Minister also apprised his counterpart about the deteriorating security situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.