Neutrality will remain the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy regarding the conflict in Ukraine, said Hamza Rifaat Hussain, a researcher at the Institute of Political Studies in Islamabad
ISLAMABAD, July 19. /Correspondent of TASS Ruslan Bekniyazov/. During his visit to Pakistan, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba will try to enlist Islamabad's support against Moscow, but the authorities of the Islamic Republic will not sign up for such a step. This opinion was expressed by Hamza Rifaat Hussain, a researcher at the Institute of Political Studies of Islamabad (IPRI), in an interview with a TASS correspondent.
"What should be expected is a good and cordial reception of the Ukrainian Foreign Minister [in Pakistan], but not the support of one side at the expense of the other," he said. "Neutrality will remain the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy regarding the conflict in Ukraine."
As the expert noted, Pakistani-Ukrainian cooperation cannot be based on Islamabad providing diplomatic or military support to Kiev against Moscow. "In fact, Pakistan has made it very clear, 'This is not our war. Russia and Ukraine should resolve the conflict, [Presidents Vladimir] Putin and [Vladimir] Zelensky. There is no need to involve the Islamic Republic in this confrontation," he added.
According to Hussein, the President of Ukraine "is fixated on enlisting the military support of all countries of the world, not only Europe." "He seeks to isolate Russia diplomatically, declare the Russian Federation an aggressor country, a terrorist state, and tries to do this through the mechanisms of the UN and the European Union, as well as to gain support in Asia," the expert told TASS. "However, it seems to me that Pakistan, being a developing country and having its own, including economic, difficulties, will not take part in any conflicts."
"I believe that during the negotiations, Pakistan will make it clear [to the Ukrainian side] that it is more interested in developing regional connectivity and economic prosperity, in particular meeting the energy needs of its own population," Hussein said. He added that in this context, Islamabad is likely to give preference to mutually beneficial cooperation with Moscow - due to the already existing potential in energy trade.
According to a press release from the Pakistani Foreign Ministry, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba will arrive in Islamabad on July 20 for a two-day official visit. The Ukrainian Minister will meet with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif.
According to the Foreign Ministry, this is the first visit of this level in the history of Pakistani-Ukrainian relations established in 1993. "Cooperation between Pakistan and Ukraine is close and kind-hearted, in particular in the areas of trade, investment, agriculture and higher education," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
