ISLAMABAD: Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Monday thanked the Polish government for its assistance in the evacuation of Pakistanis stranded in Ukraine.

“Foreign Minister Qureshi highly appreciated the Polish side for receiving Pakistani students and community being evacuated from Ukraine. He added that Pakistan looked forward to continued assistance by the Polish Government during this difficult period,” the Foreign Office said in a statement after Mr Qureshi’s telephone conversation with his Polish counterpart Zbigniew Rau.

Out of a total of 676 Pakistanis, who have so far been evacuated from the conflict-hit Ukraine, 606 have moved out to Poland from where some have been brought back home.

“The Polish foreign minister assured of Poland’s full support and facilitation in the evacuation process,” the FO said.

According to the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two ministers discussed international reaction to the Russian military action against Ukraine and the evacuation of Pakistani citizens to Poland.

Mr Qureshi reiterated Pakistan’s call for de-escalation, dialogue and diplomacy for resolving the dispute.

Published in Dawn, March 1st, 2022