With reference to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow amid Russia’sinvasion to Ukraine, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday saidthe United States national security advisor called Pakistan’s NSA MoeedYusuf and told him: “Do not go”.
Qureshi said this while addressing the floor of the National Assemblysession in which the voting on the no-confidence motion against the primeminister is expected to take place at 8pm today.
“We decided to present our point of view on the Ukraine crisis. And we didso in a session of the United Nations,” the foreign minister said to givecredence to claims that an international conspiracy was afoot to remove theprime minister for having an “independent foreign policy”.
The foreign minister said Pakistan clarified its position that the countrywould play its role in peace. “We are willing to be partners in peace andnot in conflict anymore – after suffering more than 20 years [of war inAfghanistan].
“This is the policy of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government.”
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He added: “A bilateral visit to Moscow was being planned for two months.For that a consultation was held related to the tour’s benefit for thecountry with all stakeholders, including former diplomats and mediapersonnel. The pros and cons of the visit were discussed and it was decidedthat the visit was beneficial for Pakistan. Russia’s invasion of Ukrainehad not started then.”
Prime Minister Imran Khan in his public address to the nation on March 27link claimed that a “foreign conspiracy” washatched to topple the PTI government and claimed the possession of a letterthat cited threats to the premier in case the no-confidence motion failedagainst the prime minister. The connections of toppling the PTI’s rule werethen being made with Pakistan’s “independent foreign policy” and thepremier’s visit to Russia.
Some social media users lauded the foreign minister for his fierce speechon the floor of the House while others criticized him.
