Look: Rare, Throwback Photos Of Benazir Bhutto, Dubai Ruler Shows Strong UAE-Pakistan Ties

2026-01-31 04:19:47

(MENAFN- Khaleej Times) As Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari made his way to UAE last week, he was welcomed by the country's leaders, who emphasised the strong bond of friendship between the two nations.

This bond is not a recent development; it has been strengthened over years of mutual respect, and efforts by different generations of leaders.

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Bakhtawar Bhutto Zardari, daughter of former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto, shared a treasure trove of memories, as she fondly commented that Dubai Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum always holds the "same kindness, love and humility".

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In a throwback to the past, Sheikh Mohammed can be seen intently paying attention to Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, First Lady of Pakistan, and her siblings, when they were children, as he sat across from Benazir Bhutto.

In the recent visit, Sheikh Mohammed can be pictured speaking to Aseefa, whom he called a "daughter of Dubai."

The mutual respect goes back generations. Two visionary leaders - UAE's Founding Father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and Pakistan's former president Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto maintained brotherly ties in the 1970s.

At a crucial time for both the nations, they established strong foundations to an enduring partnership that has lasted the test of time.

Sheikh Zayed was "the first world leader to welcome Shaheed Benazir Bhutto to the UAE", Aseefa said in an earlier Instagram post.

Also pictured here is Zaki Nusseibeh, who currently serves as the Cultural Advisor to the UAE President, and the Chancellor of the United Arab Emirates University.

Nusseibeh is a long-standing voice in politics and diplomacy, active since the formation of the UAE.

And the mutual appreciation continues for more years to come. These two pictures are a visual representation of the passing on of leadership values to the next generation.

Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Aseefa, Bakhtawar, and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari are present with their fathers.

Did you know?

As over 1.7 million Pakistanis call the UAE home, the two countries share a long history almost as old as UAE. Pakistan was among the first countries to recognise the formation of the Emirates. Expats from the South Asian nation have contributed much to the foundations of the country.

In the 1980s, as travel became essential for a country to truly be connected to the world, Pakistan International Airlines helped UAE launch its flag carrier Emirates.

On 25 October 1985, Emirates operated its flights from Dubai to Karachi and Mumbai, using a Boeing 737 and an Airbus 300 B4 wet‐leased from Pakistan International Airlines. And in the cockpit was Fazle Ghani Mian, a Pakistani pilot. He also trained the UAE national pilots in Duba