<p>The United Arab Emirates' envoy to Washington confirmed the Gulf state is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a "healthy and functional" relationship.</p>.<p>Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over Kashmir, people with knowledge of the matter had told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said in a virtual discussion with Stanford University's Hoover Institution on Wednesday that the UAE played a role "in bringing Kashmir escalation down and created a ceasefire, hopefully ultimately leading to restoring diplomats and getting the relationship back to a healthy level".</p>.<p>"They might not sort of become best friends but at least we want to get it to a level where it's functional, where it's operational, where they are speaking to each other," he said.</p>.<p>Ties between India and Pakistan have been frozen since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir in 2019 traced to Pakistan-based militants that led to India sending warplanes to Pakistan.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/india-pakistan-held-secret-talks-to-try-to-break-kashmir-impasse-974253.html" target="_blank">India, Pakistan held secret talks to try to break Kashmir impasse</a></strong></p>.<p>Later that year, India's prime minister withdrew Indian-ruled Kashmir's autonomy in order to tighten his grip over the territory, provoking outrage in Pakistan and the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of bilateral trade.</p>.<p>Otaiba also said that Pakistan should play a helpful role in Afghanistan, where the United States plans to start withdrawing U.S. troops on May 1 to end America's longest war.</p>.<p>The Emirati official voiced concern that an abrupt US withdrawal would constitute "reverse progress" by serving the interests of "the more illiberal forces" in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>"The question is if the three parties (the US, Taliban and Afghan government) can reach an agreement that they can all live with," Otaiba said.</p>.<p>"It's hard for us to see a way to stabilise Afghanistan without Pakistan playing a helpful role," he added.</p>.<p>Turkey is due to host a peace summit for Afghanistan from April 24 to May 4 meant to jump-start efforts to end the war and sketch out a possible political settlement.</p>
<p>The United Arab Emirates' envoy to Washington confirmed the Gulf state is mediating between India and Pakistan to help the nuclear-armed rivals reach a "healthy and functional" relationship.</p>.<p>Top intelligence officers from India and Pakistan held secret talks in Dubai in January in a new effort to calm military tension over Kashmir, people with knowledge of the matter had told <em>Reuters</em>.</p>.<p>Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba said in a virtual discussion with Stanford University's Hoover Institution on Wednesday that the UAE played a role "in bringing Kashmir escalation down and created a ceasefire, hopefully ultimately leading to restoring diplomats and getting the relationship back to a healthy level".</p>.<p>"They might not sort of become best friends but at least we want to get it to a level where it's functional, where it's operational, where they are speaking to each other," he said.</p>.<p>Ties between India and Pakistan have been frozen since a suicide bombing of an Indian military convoy in Kashmir in 2019 traced to Pakistan-based militants that led to India sending warplanes to Pakistan.</p>.<p><strong>Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/international/india-pakistan-held-secret-talks-to-try-to-break-kashmir-impasse-974253.html" target="_blank">India, Pakistan held secret talks to try to break Kashmir impasse</a></strong></p>.<p>Later that year, India's prime minister withdrew Indian-ruled Kashmir's autonomy in order to tighten his grip over the territory, provoking outrage in Pakistan and the downgrading of diplomatic ties and suspension of bilateral trade.</p>.<p>Otaiba also said that Pakistan should play a helpful role in Afghanistan, where the United States plans to start withdrawing U.S. troops on May 1 to end America's longest war.</p>.<p>The Emirati official voiced concern that an abrupt US withdrawal would constitute "reverse progress" by serving the interests of "the more illiberal forces" in Afghanistan.</p>.<p>"The question is if the three parties (the US, Taliban and Afghan government) can reach an agreement that they can all live with," Otaiba said.</p>.<p>"It's hard for us to see a way to stabilise Afghanistan without Pakistan playing a helpful role," he added.</p>.<p>Turkey is due to host a peace summit for Afghanistan from April 24 to May 4 meant to jump-start efforts to end the war and sketch out a possible political settlement.</p>