New Delhi: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, who commended New Delhi’s independent stand on foreign policy matters, on Sunday praised India for India’s foreign policy. He lauded India for importing crude oil from Russia despite American sanctions.
He made this remark during his speech in which the Pakistan Prime Minister listed his government’s achievements as he is facing a no-confidence motion by the opposition. The vote will take place on March 25.
He said that India’s policy is for people’s betterment. Addressing a public rally in the Malakand area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa he said, “Main aaj Hindustan ko daad deta hun (I praise our neighboring country Hindustan) as they always had an independent foreign policy. Today, India is in their (America) alliance and they are part of QUAD (Quadrilateral Security Dialogue); they say that are neutral. They are importing oil from Russia despite sanctions because their policy is for the betterment of people.”
Khan is critic of currently ruling NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The prime minister said that his foreign policy, too, would favor the people of Pakistan. “I haven’t bowed before anyone and will not let my nation bow either,” said Khan.
He broke the tradition of not openly discussing complicated matters relating to foreign relations in public rallies. Khan mentioned that he had said “absolutely not” to the EU envoys seeking Pakistan’s support against Russia in the Russia-Ukraine conflict because “they broke protocol by making the request”. He said that Pakistan would have gained nothing by complying with the EU’s request.
Unlike QUAD members, India has abstained in three UN votes condemning Moscow’s actions, calling only for a halt to the violence.
Pakistan PM was in Moscow on the day of the Ukraine invasion. His government has too abstained from voting against Russia.
Minister close to Pakistan PM alleged that to topple his government, the no-confidence motion is part of a conspiracy by foreign powers in the west.
The opposition has accused Pakistan PM of bad governance and economic incompetence as inflation has soared.
On this Imran Khan replied that he did not join politics to check the prices of “aloo and tamatar”.
Speaking with media last week, Pakistan Army spokesperson had stated that the military will stay neutral, to which Khan has responded days after while addressing a rally in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by saying humans take sides and “only animals are neutral”.
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