ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s information minister Chaudhry Fawad Hussain announced on Saturday that Prime Minister Imran Khan would “soon” visit Europe while dismissing the impression that his country’s relations with European nations had soured due to Khan’s recent visit to Russia.
The Pakistani prime minister’s visit to Moscow last month coincided with Russian invasion of Ukraine and the decision of Western nations to announce sanctions against President Vladimir Putin’s administration.
Last week, representatives of 22 countries in Islamabad, including the European Union mission, urged Pakistan to join the international condemnation of Russian “aggression” in Ukraine.
“I want to reject the impression that is doing the rounds recently in Pakistan that our relations have nosedived with the Western bloc,” Hussain said during a news conference in Lahore. “The prime minister will soon embark on a tour of Europe. We believe in pursuing a balanced policy.”
The information minister said Pakistan’s stance on the Ukraine issue was comprehensive, adding that PM Khan had never supported military action. “For the first time ever, Pakistan’s foreign policy is being formulated within the country,” he continued.
Hussain said Pakistan enjoyed cordial relations with Europe and its ties with the United States were also headed in a positive direction.
He added that representatives of Western and Muslim states would stand with his country on March 23 when the South Asian nation celebrates Pakistan Day.
