NEW YORK: Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has strongly defended former prime minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow, saying the visit was part of Pakistan’s foreign policy.
Talking to media in New York, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says Pakistan has always played a proactive role to ensure peace and stability in the region as peaceful coexistence is one of main objectives of our foreign policy.
Bilawal said Pakistan adopted an integrated strategy to counter terrorism and formulated an effective National Action Plan to tackle extremism and terrorism in country.
In response to a question over Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow, he said there was no way for the former prime minister to know that Russia would invade Ukraine on the day he landed in the Russian capital.
“As far the former prime minister’s trip to Russia, I would absolutely defend the former prime minister of Pakistan. He conducted that trip as part of his foreign policy. There’s no way we could have possibly known that that would be the time the conflict will start,” Bhutto said.
“I believe it is very unfair to punish Pakistan for such an innocent action.” Pakistan, he said, was “absolutely clear” that it has to stand by the principles of the United Nations, including that of non-use of force, on this issue. “We are not part of any conflict. We do not wish to be part of any conflict. In fact, we would continue to emphasise on the importance of peace,” he said.
“We would continue to emphasise the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to resolve this conflict as soon as possible. And we will certainly not take any side or take the side of any aggressor within this context.”
Later, when another journalist asked if this was just a “one-time exception” or the present government would defend its predecessors, Bilawal said: “As far as the former prime minister is concerned, I can’t defend his politics, I can’t defend his manifesto, I can’t defend his government.”
“In his capacity as prime minister, the way he conducted himself in foreign policy, particularly in context of this Russian trip, I will go as far as to defend the fact that he did not know the Ukraine conflict will start on the very day that he was there.”
He said that India has openly violated the international laws and resolutions passed by the United Nations regarding Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir by taking illegal and aggressive measures in occupied territory. He said the solution to the Kashmir issue is essential for peace and stability in the South Asian region.
Talking about Afghanistan’s humanitarian crisis, the Foreign Minister called for joint and collective efforts to address Afghan crisis. He said that international community must play its role in resolving the issue.
He said Pakistan has always helped Afghan people in every difficult time and hosted millions of refugees. He warned the world that escalation of the Afghan crisis will affect the entire region.
