Islamabad: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan criticised Islamabad-based Western envoys who in a letter urged Pakistan to vote against Russia in the UN over its military action in Ukraine.
“I want to ask the European Union ambassadors: Did you write such a letter to India?”
Khan said addressing a political rally in the Vehari district of Punjab on Sunday.
Ambassadors of 22 countries, including the head of the European Union (EU) delegation, released a joint letter on March 1 urging Pakistan to support the resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine. Pakistan, China and India were among the 35 countries that abstained from the vote.
Pakistan seeks balanced ties
Pakistani prime minister has repeatedly stated that his country seeks balanced ties with major world powers and would not become part of any bloc politics. Pakistan seeks friendly ties with all countries, he said. “We have good ties with the United States and Russia, China and Europe. We are not in any camp. Since we are neutral, we will work in collaboration with other countries to end this war in Ukraine which is causing devastation” he said.
War on terror and drone attacks
Prime Minister Khan recalled that Pakistan had supported the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) alliance in its “war on terror” in which Pakistan suffered 80,000 casualties because of the war and its tribal areas were devastated. But it was regrettable that some Western countries blamed Pakistan for losing the war in Afghanistan, he said.
During the speech, PM Khan also lashed out at Pakistani opposition leaders, former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and ex-president Asif Ali Zardari, blaming them for overlooking US drone attacks in Pakistan to protect their ill-gotten money stashed abroad instead of the country’s national interest.
Pakistan urges diplomacy
Responding to the letter and press release by the heads of several EU missions in Pakistan, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Asim Iftikhar said: “The practise was unacceptable and Pakistan has conveyed its concern to the embassies.”
Pakistan has called for dialogue and de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine but avoided both condemning the Russian attack and declaring open support for Ukraine
. “All efforts must be made to avoid further escalation of violence and loss of life as well as military, political and economic tensions, which can pose an unprecedented threat to international peace and security and global economic stability,” Pakistan’s ambassador to UN Munir Akram.
