Imran Khan, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, has criticized Islamabad-based Western envoys who last week sought to pressure Pakistan to condemn Russia’s actions in Ukraine, asking them if they thought Pakistan was their “slave”, TRT World reported.
The heads of 22 diplomatic missions, including those of European Union member states, released a joint letter on March 1 urging Pakistan to support a resolution in the United Nations General Assembly condemning Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The move to release the letter publicly was rare, the report said.
“What do you think of us? Are we your slaves … that whatever you say, we will do?” TRT quoted Khan saying while addressing a political rally in Pakistan.
In the event, Pakistan, a traditional ally of the West, abstained from voting as the UN General Assembly overwhelmingly reprimanded Russia for invading Ukraine.
“I want to ask the European Union ambassadors: Did you write such a letter to India?” Khan said, noting that Pakistan’s arch-rival had also abstained.
The Pakistan PM also said European countries had not censured India for its actions in Kashmir, a mountainous region over which Pakistan and India have fought two wars.
He said Pakistan had suffered because it had supported the Western NATO alliance in Afghanistan, and instead of gratitude faced criticism.
He added that Pakistan would remain “neutral” and work with those trying to end the war in Ukraine.
On Friday, a Pakistani foreign office spokesperson said it was “not usual diplomatic practice” for envoys to make appeals such as their letter public, “and we have made that clear”.
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