Pakistan has denied reports that Prime Minister Imran Khan is curtailing his Moscow visit and returning to Pakistan after Russia launched an attack on Ukraine. Pakistani Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Hussain Chaudhry has said that the visit is going ahead as scheduled, and he will meet Putin today. “Speculations about PM @mranKhanPTI visit are misplaced. The Visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule,” he tweeted.
Speculations about PM @ImranKhanPTI visit are misplaced. The Visit is proceeding and PM will return to Pakistan tonight as per schedule
— Ch Fawad Hussain (@fawadchaudhry) February 24, 2022
While Imran Khan is going ahead with meeting Putin, his scheduled media interaction has been cancelled. Later, minister Fawad Hussain also tweeted an update that Imran Khan has left the hotel to meet president Putin.
Earlier it was reported that hours after landing up in Moscow, the Pakistani Prime Minister has decided to call off his visit to Russia after Putin declared war on Ukraine.
While Russia’s military operation had just kicked off in Ukraine, Imran Khan after reaching Moscow said that he was “excited” to be in Moscow at this juncture. Imran Khan was to visit Moscow and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday during the two-day visit which was touted to be ‘historic’. This is the first visit to Moscow by a Pakistani leader in more than 20 years.
Imran Khan in Russia as Russia invades Ukraine: What a time I have come, so much excitement pic.twitter.com/9T3SuU9KFA
— Yusuf Unjhawala 🇮🇳 (@YusufDFI) February 24, 2022
As soon as he landed in Russia, Khan told a Russian official, “What a time I have come so much excitement,” even as tensions between Russia and Ukraine were escalating amid clouds of imminent war. Subsequently, the United States of America informed Pakistan about its position on the Russia-Ukraine crisis and within hours, Khan decided to call off the rest of the tour.
“We’ve communicated to Pakistan our position regarding Russia’s further renewed invasion of Ukraine and we have briefed them on our efforts to pursue diplomacy over war,” Price had reportedly told media about Khan’s visit to Moscow.
Before meeting with Putin, Khan had paid floral tribute at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, dedicated to Soviet soldiers killed in World War II.
Prime Minister Imran Khan laid a floral wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier– a war memorial dedicated to Soviet soldiers killed in World War II
— ادریس یوسف (@adreesyousaf587) February 24, 2022
#PMIKInRussia pic.twitter.com/nZmZW4VidI
It should be noted here that Pakistan has been a longstanding NATO ally while its relationship with Russia has been growing under the increasing Chinese influence.
