Daily Times May 2, 2021 Both the Pakistani and Indian Foreign ministers visited the UAE earlier this month, ostensibly on respective bilateral visits. In diplomacy, nothing happens by chance and unwritten protocols dictate that hosting two Foreign ministers representing two sovereign states at the same time should be avoided as an international diplomatic norm. Unless, of course, there is a multilateral diplomatic meeting or conference. By all indications the two were not on a bilateral visit to the UAE. Especially given that just days earlier, the UAE envoy to Washington disclosed that the UAE has been mediating between Pakistan and India and has “played a role in bringing Kashmir escalation down and creating a ceasefire, hopefully ultimately leading to restoring diplomats and getting the relationship back to a healthy level”. International media also reported back channel “secrets talks” at the intelligence-wing level taking place in Dubai in January, resulting in de-escalation and ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC).