ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has categorically ruled out to be part of any camppolitics and urged the international community to make joint efforts forresolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict through diplomatic means, APPreported.
“Pakistan believes that any military conflict impacts the whole region,particularly the developing countries. There is a need to show restraint.Diplomacy cannot be ruled out,” Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi saidapprising media of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s two-day Russian visit whichconcluded on Thursday.
He told the media that during his three and a half hours long meeting withPresident Putin, the prime minister presented Pakistan’s viewpoint and alsolistened to the Russian version from the host president.
He said following the conflict, oil prices had already surged over $100 perbarrel besides impacting the wheat prices as Russia and Ukraine were amongthe largest wheat exporters.
Shah Mahmood Qureshi told media that prior to the prime minister’s Russiavisit, a senior level contact was made by the United States whereinPakistan explained the objective of the visit.
“They asked us a very innocent question and we responded that withrespect,” he remarked.
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Foreign Minister Qureshi reiterated the prime minister’s vision thatPakistan would not be part of any camp politics rather focus on its owninterests.
“What is in the Pakistan interest is our priority. Today, Pakistan hastotally good relations with all NATO powers including the US. We haveshifted our foreign policy from geopolitics to geoeconomics. We have tomove ahead for regional connectivity,” he added.
Commenting on the debate on the timing of the prime minister’s visit, hesaid it was well thought out as it followed a detailed discussion with theformer foreign secretaries and diplomats who had served in Russia.
