Moscow/Islamabad, Feb 24: Pakistan Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry has dismissed rumours that PM Imran Khan would cut short his visit to Moscow amid the Russian aggression in Ukraine. Imran Khan arrived in Moscow on Wednesday evening to a red carpet welcome, as Russia escalated its military actions on Ukraine and launched a full-scale attack on the eastern part of the country earlier today. Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, who is part of the entourage, dismissed rumours that PM Khan was cutting short his visit and termed the speculations as “misplaced”.
The information minister said the visit is “proceeding and the PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule”. Earlier in the day, Imran Khan laid a floral wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Moscow as a tribute to the Russian casualties of World War 2 as he continued his official visit to the country. At the airport on Wednesday night, Imran Khan and his delegation were received by Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Igor Morgulov and high officials of the Pakistan Embassy.
The prime minister was also given a guard of honour. During Imran’s summit meeting with Putin, the two leaders are to review the entire spectrum of bilateral relations including energy cooperation, according to the Foreign Office. They will also have a wide-ranging exchange of views on major regional and international issues, including Islamophobia and the situation in Afghanistan. This is the first visit by a Pakistani prime minister in more than two decades. The visit will contribute to the further deepening the multifaceted Pakistan-Russia relationship and enhancement of mutual cooperation in diverse fields. The Pakistan Prime Minister’s trip to Moscow to discuss issues including economic cooperation comes after a number of Western nations have slapped Russia with new sanctions over Ukraine. Pakistan’s National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf, who is part of the entourage, has rejected the notion about the timing of the visit. “Yes there is a global tension but our visit is of bilateral nature and the similar path was taken in the visit to China where economy, economic indicators and connectivity was at the heart of that tour,” he said.
Asked about Pakistan’s stance when the Ukraine crisis deepens, he said Pakistan’s message for Russia and the whole world was that it was not in any zero-sum game and there was no such [demand] from Kremlin as well. Imran Khan is slated to push for the construction of a long-delayed, multi-billion-dollar gas pipeline to be built in collaboration with Russian companies. Pakistan Energy Minister Hammad Azhar is accompanying Imran Khan on the visit to push for the gas pipeline project.
The others accompanying the Pakistan PM are Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Information Minister Fawad Chaudhry, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, Commerce Adviser Abdul Razak Dawood, and MNA Amir Mahmood Kiani. The project is planned to deliver imported Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) from Karachi to power plants in Punjab, through a 1,100 km-long pipeline. According to reports, COAS General Qamar Javed Bajwa was scheduled to visit Washington during the same time as PM Imran Khan’s Moscow visit. However, his visit was cancelled because US defense and military officials were reportedly pre-occupied with the crisis over Ukraine. Washington was also said to be annoyed over the visit of Iranian Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi to Islamabad earlier this month, which could have also contributed to the cancellation of General Bajwa’s Washington visit.
The visit comes as the US has said it has communicated to Pakistan its position regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: “We have communicated to Pakistan our position regarding Russia’s further renewed invasion of Ukraine and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war.” Asked about Imran Khan’s visit, Price said: “We believe it’s a responsibility of every responsible country around the world to voice concern, to voice objection, to what Putin appears to have in mind for Ukraine.” Price said the United States is aware of the Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan’s trip and underscored that responsible countries should object to Russia s actions.
