ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday suggested Pakistan’s role in finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

“I emphasized the importance of humanitarian relief & reiterated call for a solution through dialogue & diplomacy. We agreed that countries like Pakistan could play a facilitating role in this endeavour,” PM Khan said in a tweet after a telephone conversation with President of European Union Council Charles Michel over the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

The conversation took place amidst a widening gulf between Pakistan and the European Union over the former’s position on the conflict.

Pakistan has opted for a neutral stance and last week abstained during the voting in United Nations General Assembly on a resolution calling on Russia to immediately end its military operations in Ukraine. Moreover, PM Khan’s visit to Moscow last month coincided with the start of Russian aggression against Ukraine.

Reaches out to EU Council chief, asks for ‘close engagement’ on ‘shared objectives’

The Europeans are not too happy with Pakistan’s position.

A group of envoys, mostly from European countries, had ahead of the UNGA vote issued a rare joint statement asking Islamabad to condemn Russia’s attack on Ukraine. It was evident from the timing and the phrasing of the statement that it had been issued to influence Pakistani position during UNGA debate.

PM Khan, in a political rally over the weekend, criticised the ambassadors for the statement. He asked if they issued a similar statement in India, which abstained during voting in both the UN Security Council and General Assembly.

He, moreover, questioned Europe’s silence over violation of international law by India in occupied Kashmir. “What do you think of us? Are we your slaves that whatever you say, we will do?” he had further said.

Foreign Office had on Friday also objected to the issuance of the statement by the envoys. “We took note of that and in a subsequent meeting with a group of ambassadors, we expressed our concern about that, because as I said that is not the way diplomacy should be practiced, and I think they have realised,” FO spokesman Asim Iftikhar had said at the weekly media briefing.

Prime minister Khan said he had in his conversation with Mr Michel expressed concern over the continuing military conflict in Ukraine while emphasising the urgent need for ceasefire and de-escalation. He had also highlighted the adverse economic impact of the conflict on developing countries.

The prime minister said he looked forward to close engagement with the EU for the promotion of “shared objectives”.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi had earlier spoken to EU Foreign Policy chief Josep on the crisis.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2022