New York Times report alleges mass expulsions linked to Iran tensions, but Pakistan says deportations are routine legal cases — not politically motivated
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Reports of alleged large-scale deportations of Pakistani workers from the United Arab Emirates have triggered concern and confusion after The New York Times claimed the expulsions may be linked to Islamabad’s diplomatic role in the ongoing U.S.-Iran crisis.
The report alleged that the UAE had begun sending Pakistani workers home in significant numbers as tensions grew over Pakistan’s attempts to mediate between the United States and Iran.
According to the newspaper, Emirati authorities were reportedly unhappy with Pakistan’s response to Iranian missile and drone attacks on the UAE during the regional conflict.
The report cited interviews with Pakistani Shia businessmen and workers in the Emirates who claimed Pakistani employees had recently been deported or denied renewals of visas and work permits.
The UAE has been among the countries most affected by the conflict, with thousands of Iranian missile and drone attacks reportedly targeting Emirati territory during the recent escalation.
Pakistan rejects claims of targeted deportations
However, Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior strongly denied the allegations on Friday, calling the reports “malicious,” “fabricated,” and part of a “vicious propaganda” campaign.
In an official statement, the ministry said there was no evidence of any country-specific or sect-specific deportation campaign being carried out by the UAE.
“No country or sect-specific deportations from any country, including the UAE, are being carried out,” the statement said.
The ministry clarified that deportations involving Pakistani nationals were part of normal immigration enforcement procedures related to visa violations, overstaying, illegal documentation or other legal infractions under UAE laws.
Officials stressed that Pakistani citizens who fulfill visa and employment requirements continue to travel to and work in the UAE “without prejudice.”
Diplomatic missions monitoring cases
Pakistan’s Foreign Office also downplayed the issue.
During a weekly briefing, a spokesperson said Pakistan’s diplomatic missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai were actively handling individual consular cases involving Pakistani nationals.
The spokesperson emphasized that the deportations appeared linked to immigration or legal matters rather than political disagreements.
“I do not see any political reason for their deportation,” the official said, adding that the UAE authorities and Pakistani missions were jointly dealing with such cases through established diplomatic channels.
UAE remains critical for Pakistani workers
The issue carries major economic and political sensitivity because millions of Pakistanis work in Gulf countries, particularly the UAE, which remains one of Pakistan’s largest sources of overseas employment and remittances.
Any deterioration in ties between Islamabad and Abu Dhabi could significantly affect Pakistan’s economy, which heavily depends on remittance inflows from expatriate workers in the Gulf region.
Analysts say the contrasting narratives — one alleging politically motivated expulsions and the other insisting deportations are routine legal matters — highlight the growing diplomatic pressures emerging from the broader Middle East conflict.
Pakistan has attempted to maintain balanced relations with both Iran and the Gulf Arab states while also positioning itself as a potential mediator between Washington and Tehran.
So far, neither UAE authorities nor independent international observers have publicly confirmed claims of a targeted mass expulsion campaign against Pakistani nationals.
