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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has called for de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine but stopped short of either condemning the Russian invasion.
Foreign Minister Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi held a telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and discussed the situation for the first time since Russia invaded its neighbour.
According to a statement, the foreign minister shared “Pakistan’s perspective in detail, reiterating serious concern at the situation, underscoring the importance of de-escalation, and stressing the indispensability of diplomacy.”
The foreign minister noted that Prime Minister Imran Khan in his recent visit to Moscow regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine and said that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict.
He stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest, and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically, in case of conflict. The Foreign Minister underlined Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
Foreign Minister Qureshi also took up the important matter of evacuation of Pakistani community and students in Ukraine and their safe return to Pakistan. He appreciated the role played by the Ukrainian authorities in the evacuation process and asked for continued facilitation and smooth border crossing at the earliest possible.
This was the first high-level contact between Pakistan and Ukraine since Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Moscow last week. Prime Minister Imran Khan said he regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine underlined that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
In a statement after a bilateral summit meeting with President Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, the prime minister said Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict.
“The Prime Minister regretted the latest situation between Russia and Ukraine and said that Pakistan had hoped diplomacy could avert a military conflict” a statement issued by the PM’s Media Office said.
“The Prime Minister stressed that conflict was not in anyone’s interest, and that the developing countries were always hit the hardest economically in case of conflict. He underlined Pakistan’s belief that disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy,” the statement added. The two leaders held wide-ranging consultations on bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest.