Amid Russian invasion of Ukraine, Pakistan PM lauds India's "independent & neutral" stance

Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has lauded India's foreign policy for being "independent and neutral" amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

In a public address, he said,"Mai Hindustan ko dath deta hun, inho ney hamesh Azad foreign policy rakhi, Aj Hindustan unkey sath Mila hua hai, unka alliance hai, quad key ander amerika ki alliance ki hui hai, aur apney ap ko kahta hai neutral hun. Russ se tel mangwa ra hai, jabki sanctions lagi hui hai. Kyon ki Hindustan ki policy unki logon ki behtri key liye hai." (I laud India for its Independent foreign policy. It's part of the Quad, along with US and says it neutral. It is getting oil from Russia despite sanctions. This is because India's policy is for betterment of its citizens",

He was addressing a rally at Dargai Malakand.The rare praise by Pakistan PM for archrival India comes amid mounting pressure on him ahead of the no confidence motion he faces in the Parliament. In the past, Imran Khan has been sharply critical of India, especially after New Delhi removed special status for the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistani Prime Minister also slammed European Union envoys forasking Islamabad to condemn Russia over Ukraine invasion and said, "Kya ap Hindustan ko kahein gaye, inki jan jati hai inki Hindustan ko kahtey huey" (Will they ever say this to India ever? they are scared of doing so). Pakistan had abstained at United Nations General Assembly when Russian invasion of Ukraine was taken up.

Pakistan has tried to increase engagement with Russia even as its ties with Washington comes under pressure. There has not been any telephonic conversation between Imran Khan and Joe Biden since the latter became the President of the United States last year. Last month Pakistan PM was on a bilateral visit of Russia and held talks with Russian President Putin. The visit began on 24th February, the day Russia began its invasion of Ukraine.