Pakistan PM stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire and de-escalation in Ukraine
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan held a phone conversation with the President of European Council Charles Michel on March 7 to discuss the current situation in Ukraine.
Pakistani prime minister shared concerns over continued military conflict, highlighted its adverse economic impact on developing countries and stressed the urgent need for ceasefire and de-escalation.
PM Khan emphasized the importance of humanitarian reliefand& reiterated the call for a solution through dialogue and diplomacy. “We agreed that countries like Pakistan could play a facilitating role in this endeavour.”
The Ukraine conflict “threatens multilateral order, international cooperation and economic development. Reaching a ceasefire, establishing humanitarian corridors and preventing further loss of lives is of the utmost urgency” the European Council Charles Michel said.
PM Imran Khan expressed “deep concern” over the military conflict and stressed that further escalation would have a negative impact on the region and the world, Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.
“The prime minister added that he had been persistently highlighting the adverse economic impact of conflict on developing countries,” the statement said.
Emphasising that Pakistan had maintained a principled position that it would only be a partner for peace, the premier stressed the urgent need for a ceasefire as well as the importance of humanitarian relief for civilians in Ukraine.
“The prime minister underlined that Pakistan had friendly ties with Russia and Ukraine and had remained in close contact with both sides. The prime minister expressed the hope that the dispute would be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy.
“The two leaders agreed that countries like Pakistan could play a facilitating role in these endeavours and that both sides would remain closely engaged to promote shared objectives,” the statement said.
Meanwhile, the premier underscored the importance of Pakistan’s relations with the EU and conveyed that he was looking forward to his visit to Brussels to meet the bloc’s leadership. “He also extended an invitation to Michel to visit Pakistan,” the statement said.