‘No one has a sixth sense’: Pakistan Foreign Minister defends Imran Khan’s controversial Moscow go to

There was no chance that Imran Khan would have recognized about Russia’s plans to invade Ukraine when he visited Moscow, Pakistan’s new Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has stated, as he defended the ousted premier’s controversial go to to fulfill President Vladimir Putin almost three months in the past.

Khan met President Putin within the Kremlin on February 24, the day the Russian chief ordered a “special military operation” towards Ukraine.

By visiting Moscow, he had additionally grow to be the primary Pakistani premier to go to Russia in 23 years after former premier Nawaz Sharif travelled to Moscow in 1999.

But Khan’s go to to Moscow, regardless of US makes an attempt to dissuade him, additional soured Islamabad’s relations with Washington.

“As far as the former Prime Minister’s (Khan) trip to Russia, I would absolutely defend the former prime minister of Pakistan. He conducted that trip as part of his foreign policy and without knowing that — no one is psychic, no one has a sixth sense — there’s no way we could have possibly known that that would be the time [when] the current conflict will start,” Bilawal stated whereas addressing the press on the UN headquarters on Thursday, and added that “it is very unfair to punish Pakistan for such an innocent action.”

Pakistan Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari informed a reporter on the United Nations that he “absolutely defends” former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s journey to Russia – says it was a part of the previous PM’s overseas coverage & that nobody might have recognized upfront conflict would get away pic.twitter.com/Pa1py1XC6c

— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) May 20, 2022

Bilawal, who took cost final month because the overseas minister, reiterated that Islamabad continued to face by the rules of the United Nations, together with the non-use of power, when requested about the best way ahead within the ongoing battle in Ukraine.

In March, Pakistan had abstained from voting in United Nations General Assembly decision calling on Russia to cease the conflict, and urged that the battle be resolved by dialogue and diplomacy.

“We are not part of any conflict. We do not wish to be part of any conflict. In fact, we continue to emphasise on 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 the aggressor within this context,” Bilawal, who’s on his first main worldwide go to after assuming cost final month, stated.

Khan, the 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, has been adamant that he was ousted from energy final month by an alleged US-backed vote of no-confidence since Washington didn’t like his Russia coverage.

Met UNSG @antonioguterres &
-Reaffirmed imp connected by 🇵🇰 to multilateralism & rules of UN Charter.
-Emphasized imp of #SDGs, world meals safety & countering local weather change.
-Apprised of scenario in #IIOJK & burdened on resolving the dispute in accordance with UNSCRs. pic.twitter.com/1SlCjmCb17

— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) May 18, 2022

These claims had been strongly refuted by the US.

Meanwhile, Bilawal is at present on a maiden go to to the US on the invitation of the US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to attend the ministerial assembly on the “Global Food Security Call to Action”.

On Wednesday, Bilawal met Blinken on the UN headquarters and talks focussed on bolstering regional safety and strengthening bilateral and financial ties.

In his remarks earlier than his assembly with Bilawal, the primary face-to-face interplay between the 2 ministers, Blinken stated Washington is “very pleased” to be working with the overseas minister and with a brand new authorities in Pakistan.

Bilawal additionally met Congressman Adam Smith, Chairman, US House Armed Services Committee, and briefed him on the scenario in Kashmir.