Pakistan stays away from UNGA debate on Russian withdrawal from Ukraine

The United Nations holds its second day of emergency special session General Assembly meetings on the Russia-Ukraine conflict in New York, on March 1, 2022. (AFP)

• 193-member UNGA will this week vote on a resolution condemning Moscow’s actions
• The resolution needs two-thirds support to be adopted

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan allowed its turn to pass as the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday continued debating a resolution demanding the immediate withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine.
The 193-member UNGA will this week vote on a resolution condemning Moscow’s actions, similar to one vetoed by Russia in the Security Council on Friday. The resolution needs two-thirds support to be adopted.
“Pakistan, which is trying not to take sides on this issue, stayed away from both sessions,” Dawn reported. “As a UN member, Pakistan can participate in the UNGA debate, which entered its second day on Tuesday, but so far it has avoided doing so.”
“Indications are that Pakistan wants to avoid getting involved in the dispute which places it in an uncomfortable position,” Dawn said.
Pakistan has repeatedly called for de-escalation of “tensions” between Russia and Ukraine but stopped short of either condemning the Russian invasion or showing explicit support to Kyiv.
Russia last week vetoed a draft UN Security Council resolution that would have deplored Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote — a move Western countries view as a win for showing Russia’s international isolation.
The United Arab Emirates and India also abstained from the vote on the US-drafted text. The remaining 11 council members voted in favor. The draft resolution is now being taken up by the UN General Assembly.