Pakistan’s international status has risen significantly, and the great personal charisma of PM Khan had been highly recognised by the international community. In recent years, Pakistan’s diplomacy, focusing on geo-economic strategy, has been very ‘vigorous and successful’ with commitment to balanced relations among major powers in the world. So Prime Minister Imran Khan’s upcoming official visit to Russia is historic and of great strategic significance. Russia has invited the Pakistani leader to visit Moscow, which reflected PM Imran Khan’s high-stature and leadership qualities.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has great respect for PM Khan and now the voice of Pakistani leader is always acknowledged at the world level whether it is on regional or international issues, which enhances the dignity of Pakistani people and nation. The strategic significance of the visit is mainly reflected in the three aspects: rising Pakistan’s international status; Russia’s tilt towards developing cooperation with Pakistan as India gets closer to the US; cooperative relations among Pakistan, China and Russia is conducive to curbing the disturbance of external force.
But at the same time, some analysts in the West have assumed this visit as an action to support Russia in the current conflict with Ukraine. In an interview ahead of his trip, PM Imran Khan had expressed concern about the situation in Ukraine and the possibility of new sanctions and their effect on Islamabad’s budding cooperation with Moscow. Factually, visit of was long scheduled bilaterally and now it has gained visit greater significance. Therefore as the United States urged Pakistan to play its part in averting a costly and destabilizing conflict, following the Russia-Ukraine military clash. The United States says it has been in touch with Islamabad on the escalating crisis and has communicated to Pakistan its position regarding renewed invasion of Ukraine.
We believe it’s the responsibility of every responsible country around the world to voice concern, to voice objection to what (President Vladimir) Putin appears to have in mind for Ukraine, State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters in response to a question about Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia. The US has communicated to Pakistan its position regarding Russia’s further renewed invasion of Ukraine, and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war, the spokesman said, while underscoring United States’ longstanding partnership and cooperation with Pakistan.
We view our partnership with a prosperous, with a democratic Pakistan as critical to U.S. interests. And we certainly hope, when it comes to those shared interests – the aversion of a costly conflict, the aversion of a destabilizing conflict, that every country around the world would make that point clearly in unambiguous language in their engagements with the Russian Federation, Price adds. Meanwhile, speaking at the World Affairs Councils of America (WACA), a think-tank, Pakistan’s Ambassador Asad Majeed khan said that Pakistan and the U.S. are important allies and partners. Over the past one year, a healthy momentum had been generated in laying down a foundation for structured and institutionalized bilateral dialogue processes in a number of areas of mutual interest.
