Earlier this week, the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine. Pakistan abstained from voting against russia and has objected to a statement issued by 23 ambassadors earlier this week calling it a non-diplomatic move.
“We have informed the Pakistani government of the implications of Russia’s unprovoked war against Ukraine on regional and global security,” the State Department spokesman said in response to a question about progress, according to the report.
However, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram, said Islamabad was not only aware of the consequences of its actions but also “supports all efforts” to restore peace in Ukraine.
He said that describing Pakistan’s position on the issue as an expression of Russia’s support would be a contradictory interpretation.
“We are advocating for a ceasefire and negotiations. If we were to join the Ukraine resolution, we would have no political space for diplomacy with either side,” he said.
Earlier this week, the UN General Assembly passed a non-binding resolution calling for the immediate withdrawal of all Russian troops from Ukraine.
Of the South Asian countries, only Nepal voted in favor of the resolution, while Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka abstained.
Pakistan views China as its closest ally, and China’s apparent stance on supporting Russia on this issue has also affected Pakistan’s response to the Ukrainian conflict.
In an interview, Munir Akram, Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations, explained Pakistan’s new approach to neutrality.
Explaining Pakistan’s absence from the emergency session of the UN General Assembly on the Ukraine war, Munir Akram pointed out that the resolution addressed some concerns, but did not include other key points.
He referred to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) military alliance of 28 European and two North American countries, saying “Russia is concerned about the expansion of NATO to its borders and these concerns are not mentioned in the resolution.” ۔
“It was a kind of unilateral resolution, we want a balanced approach, and we believe that this dispute should be resolved through dialogue,” he said.
In response to a question about civilian casualties in Ukraine, he said that civilian casualties, whether in Ukraine or in Kashmir and Afghanistan, should always be condemned.
However he acknowledged that their numbers were not enough to defeat Trump’s government.
“It is difficult to verify the facts and it is difficult to say who to trust, but if civilians are indeed being killed then obviously we condemn such acts,” he said.
