FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi said on Friday that the government’S decision to move on with the voyage of Russia was correct, explaining that there had been a shift in the country is foreign policy towards geoeconomics, which it justified progress on regional connectivity.
While addressing a presser in Islamabad, Qureshi stated that “If we must move towards geoeconomics, a natural conclusion for this [to happen] and do progress on [developing] regional connectivity [with] Afghanistan and beyond Afghanistan into the Central Asian republics. And if we have to move towards regional connectivity, then Russia has a historian role … in this region”
Him further added that “Russia being on board will strengthen ours [shift in] focus on regional geo-economic connectivity “.
“We have moved on and I am convinced after this visit that we have done the right thing in go on ”, he added.
The FM said this and many other factors were taken into account in consideration before it was decided to move forward with the visit to Moscow.
The timing of the visit was put in discussion but top Pakistani government officials called him one of the rarest occasions for the country hungry for energy to make progress in energy and regional connectivity.
The visit coincided with growing tensions between Russia and the West like the former started an operation in neighboring Ukraine.
FM Qureshi, in addressing the issue, stated that before Prime Minister Imran Khan left for Long fly with a delegation of ministers, he presided over a meeting to analyze the conflict in evolution.
“We have consulted [them]we weighed the pros and cons and then decided on the way forward consequently ”, the foreigner minister he said, dispelling the impression that the decision visiting Moscow was not well thought out out.
Said the current foreign secretary and four former foreign secretaries, former ambassadors, including those who served in Moscow, and more senior officials were present at the meeting.
He stressed the importance of “Collective wisdom” in about it, saying it had been inviting former foreign ambassadors and secretaries for advice and advice after taking the role of foreign minister.
“Institutional memory And of good use and U.S should benefits from experience”He said.” Using this collective wisdom, we concluded that solid logic for Consolidation of our bilateral relations with Russia should do not be lost from sight of. In light of this, we have decided to keep our plan for the visit unchanged “.
The FM also affirmed the goal of the visit was to “maximize diplomacy space for Pakistan”.
He described the visit as “satisfactory” and said, “I believe us made the right decision. Our diplomat space increased.”
Qureshi further said, the government he saw the visit as an opportunity to trust Russia on the issue of Afghanistan and the situation in evolution in South Asia, in particular with Greetings to Indian-occupied Kashmir.
“We saw […] that is an important opportunity should don’t be wasted “.
Apparently criticizing rival opposition parties, he said he saw some tweets while visiting individuals who were “in panicked. “However, he declined to name anyone and claimed their tweets expressed concern.” But my prime minister, on on the other, he did not seem upset and was confident “.
Qureshi said one of the reasons behind this could be that PM Imran had no account either assets in any western capital.
It also revealed that the US administration had done so made a “high level” contact. with Pakistan before the Moscow visit.
Using a slogan used by presenter Waseem Badami, Qureshi added: “They (the United States) asked us a Masooman question (innocent) and we asked him a respectful one reply. “
When asked to elaborate further, he claimed that the United States expressed their perspective and Pakistan communicated their point of view as well as the goal and background. of visit.
“And as I said, [the plan for the visit] remained unchanged. “
In response to the question of whether Prime Minister Imran’s visit to Moscow was not give the impression that Pakistan was supporting Russia in from the conflict in course, Qureshi said it depended on how one things seen.
“We are not part of any field politics and we don’t mean to be, ”him added.
The foreign minister said Pakistan paid a lot price for be part of politics field adding that “it would keep the ties with all. “In this regard, he set an example of Germany, where he said he would go in visit soon.
Today, Qureshi said, Pakistan presented its position ahead of the world in a self-respecting way.
“There is news in our stranger policy and Pakistan is moving towards a self-respecting and independent foreigner policy”He said.” We have shifted our focus from geopolitics to geoeconomics in light of past experiences”.
In addition, referring to a statement by Prime Minister Imran, in to which the premier said that Pakistan did not want to be in a position that implied that he was part of it of a certain field.
“In view of past experiences, we have made this big decision do not belong of any field politics”, the stranger minister reaffirmed.
“We move forward with Things in the interest of Pakistan. Period. This is our goal, this is our priority and we are moving forward in line with this [philosophy]He said, adding that Pakistan was busy today and had done so good relations with all major powers of the world.
Asked if Prime Minister Imran had done so made any offer to Russian President Vladimir Putin to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, abroad minister he said both leaders presented their position on the question in the meeting.
But, he said, the visit was not planned in view the situation in Ukarin.
“Era in plan for a long time, “Qureshi said, outlining multiple occasions of bilateral commitment with Russia. “This bilateral visit was planned in that context “, he added.
However, he said, as a situation arose, “we have presented our position on the question and listened to them.
The stranger minister said PM Imran had talked about the issue in an “appropriate time and place”, Underlining it should resolve with diplomacy.
“Why when a country or region is committed in a military conflict, it results in a loss for everything, above all in via of development countriesQureshi said, adding that the results of the Russia-Ukraine conflict was already appearing in the shape of rising oil prices.
He called for exercising restraint and said there was still a chance of solving the issue through diplomatic efforts.
In response to a question, he said Pakistan had diplomatic ties with Ukraine and “us give importance to them “.
Also, he said: “Ours military ties with Russia is improving “.
FM Qureshi also assured that the authorities in Pakistan was in touch with Embassy of Pakistan in the Ukrainian capital, Kiev.
He stated that he had a detailed telephone conversation with The ambassador of Pakistan in Ukraine before the press conference.
He further said clear the directives were also released at the Pakistani embassy in Kiev for guaranteeing the safety of the country’s diaspora in Ukraine before the Moscow visit.
In addition, he said, there were about 3,000 Pakistani students in Ukraine and the embassy had been contacted ensure that have been moved in safe areas and eventually sent back home.
“We are in constant touch with them, ”he said, adding that in to facilitate the student After the evacuation, the Pakistani embassy had been moved from Kiev to Ternopil.
He rejected reports that a Pakistani student he had been killed in Ukraine.
“I spoke to the ambassador and he told me that all of our children I’m safe so far “, il minister he said, expressing the hope that their evacuation was completed soon. “Their anxiety is understandable and we will provide them with everything help they need. “
It is pertinent to note that Qureshi began his speech with a round up of the visit, stating that the meeting between Prime Minister Imran and President Putin lasted for around half past three hours.
“PM Imran took he (Putin) in confidence over occupied Kashmir and shared Pakistan’s position on the question “, he added.
He revealed that both leaders exchanged views on the improvement in and positive trajectory of relations between Pakistan and Russia over the past few years. In addition, he said, regional issues, especially the situation in Afghanistan and security and stability of South Asia was discussed.
He further stated that energy cooperation has been also discussed in the meeting, with particular focus on Pakistan Stream pipeline, as well as the rising trend of Islamophobia.
When asked about the progress on the building of Pakistan Stream pipeline, in construction in cooperation with Russia, Qureshi said there was an agreement on most of the issues and there would be discussion on remaining issues next month.
“We hope it is completed soon,” he added.
FM Qureshi also revealed that Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak and Energy Minister Nikolay Shulginov called on PM Imran and bilateral discussion trade and investment opportunities.
Energy cooperation was also discussed with they, he said, adding that Pakistan had expressed interest in purchase of gas from Russia through a long term term government-to-government disposition.
He said it has been proposed that the gas pipeline between Russia and Uzbekistan be extended to Pakistan via Afghanistan.
The minister added that Russia had also expressed interest on the establishment of a liquefied natural gas terminal in Gwadar.
He said Prime Minister Imran and other ministers had done so also addressed to a forum of Russian and Pakistani businessmen and opportunities discussed for cooperative agreement in the future.
“We also discussed ways to remove procedural bottlenecks in trade and economic ties “, added.
The stranger minister he called the discussion productive, adding that several businessmen had expressed interest in participating in an investment conference that would be organized in Islamabad in March.
PM Imran also visited the central mosque in Moscow and met his grand mufti during the visit, he said.
The minister then I shared some of them of the salient features from a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after the visit.
When asked about the opposition parties that are approaching the Pakistani allies of Tehreek-i-Insaf, he said they could hold as many meetings as they want. “It doesn’t affect us. “
He concluded by announcing that he will go tomorrow in visit to Ghotki where he allegedly responded to the opposition.
