ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan will address the nation today on Monday on the Ukraine-Russia crisis and the global situation.
Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain confirmed the prime minister will address this evening “taking the nation into confidence on the economy and global challenges after the Russia-Ukraine conflict.”
The prime minister will reportedly also take the nation into confidence regarding the impact of global inflation on the national economy and Pakistan’s position on the situation.
Pakistan is walking a tightrope as it witnessed a uptick in bilateral relation after Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent visit to Moscow where he held a bilateral meeting with President Putin. However, Pakistan also enjoys defence ties with Ukraine.
Amid pressure to choose a stance, 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.
