The allegation that the event organised by the Cochin University BTech Alumni Association (CUBAA-UAE) at the Pakistan Association in Dubai was deliberately planned with malicious intent is gaining increasing credibility.
The event, held by the leftist-Islamist organisation CUBAA-UAE on May 25, is not an isolated incident. It has come to light that the group has maintained long-standing contacts with Pakistani authorities. There are also emerging reports that certain members of the organisation have compromised national interests in pursuit of contracts and monetary benefits from the Pakistani government. This perhaps explains why the organisation, in its explanatory note, made no mention of Pakistan, the Pahalgam terror attack, or even the name of Pakistan itself.
Further, the explanatory note issued by the organisation is, in itself, evidence of direct links between its members and the Pakistan Association. The note states, “The same venue was used for Season 1 last year due to its affordability,” indicating that the first part of the programme, held in 2024, also took place at the Pakistan Association. This clearly suggests a continuing relationship with officials of the Pakistan Association.
Additionally, the venue for the recent event was booked on April 5, 2025. However, even after the Pahalgam terrorist attack on April 11 and the Indian Army’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, CUBAA-UAE chose not to cancel or reconsider the venue. The timing of the programme also raises suspicion. It began on May 25, shortly after the Central Government initiated its foreign campaign on May 21, sending all-party delegations abroad to explain Operation Sindoor. Of note, an eight-member all-party delegation, led by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Shinde, was in the United Arab Emirates on May 22 as part of this diplomatic effort, further fuelling suspicions of a coordinated attempt to undermine the visit.
United in the fight against terrorism.
The 2nd group of All Party Delegation headed by Shiv Sena MP Shrikant Eknath Shinde has left New Delhi.
The delegation will be visiting the United Arab Emirates, Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone and Liberia to carry 🇮🇳’s strong… pic.twitter.com/ZxW7YoDuLZ
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) May 21, 2025
Moreover, Pakistan’s propaganda campaign, involving cricketers, filmmakers, journalists, and vloggers to divert attention from the Pahalgam terror attack perpetrated by Pakistani terrorists, was being run in the UAE simultaneously. As part of this campaign, Shahid Afridi and Umar Gul, celebrities with known links to Pakistan’s ISI and extremist outfits such as Jamaat-e-Islami, arrived in the UAE.
It is evident, therefore, that the event was planned to undercut the significance of India’s all-party delegation’s visit to the UAE. The presence of Afridi and Umar Gul at the event, organised by the Pakistani Embassy and hosted by CUBAA-UAE at the Pakistan Association Hall, was neither accidental nor uninvited, contrary to the claims of the organisers.
Furthermore, video and photographic evidence shows that the cricketers were not alone on stage. In fact, it is visibly clear that CUBAA-UAE officials escorted Afridi and others to the stage and formally introduced them to the audience.
At a time when India stands united against Pakistan, this leftist-Islamist organisation, operating under the guise of Malayali alumni, has acted to advance the Pakistani ISI agenda and mislead the international community. There must be a thorough investigation into the relationship between the Pakistani embassy, officials of the Pakistan Association in the UAE, and members of CUBAA-UAE. The truth must be uncovered, and the passports of those found guilty should be cancelled.
