‘Remarks not helpful’: UK cancels big meetings with Pakistan to protest Khan’s stance on Russia

Both the United Kingdom (UK) and Pakistan administrations have learned that the diplomatic relations at this point of time have cooled off to the extent that the UK government has cancelled two important visits after Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan met Russian President Vladimir Putin on the day Russia started assault of Ukraine and then PM’s blistering speech five days ago in which the prime minister said Western diplomats were treating Pakistan like slaves by pushing for tougher stance on Russia, reports Murtaza Ali Shah for The News.

Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yousuf’s official visit to the United Kingdom for a meeting with UK’s National Security Adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove was cancelled by the UK government to protest against Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia, both Pakistani and the UK sources confirmed to The News.

This week, a high-powered delegation of the UK administration was supposed to visit Pakistan for talks on various issues but that visit has been called off, said the UK government source to The News, who confirmed that the message was conveyed to Pakistan.

The source shared that tensions are so heightened that the UK government called over UK’s High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner for a briefing in relation to the new situation, including the UK-Pakistan relations. The source said Turner has briefed his government policy makers during the London briefings where the UK’s aid to Pakistan came under discussion too and a new policy in this regard will be announced soon.

The UK government source shared that PM Imran Khan’s public condemnation of the European nations have caused unease amongst the countries, especially Britain, which has often supported Pakistan at various international forums.

READ MORE: ‘Kya hum aap ke ghulaam hain?’ PM Khan slams EU ambassadors based in Pakistan

The Pakistani source shared that Pakistan has decided to follow an independent foreign policy and PM Khan’s visit to Russia and his latest public statements are a reflection of Pakistan’s new approach. The source said Pakistan is not against any country and has the right to follow its own policies.

On Sunday, PM Khan questioned European Union (EU) envoys in Pakistan for their letter asking Islamabad to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“Are we your slaves that you think we will do whatever you ask us to do?”

PM should not have reacted publicly against EU, says Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin on Wednesday said PM Khan should not have reacted “publicly” against the European Union in his recent speech where he lashed out at the bloc’s ambassadors for their “undiplomatic” statement asking Pakistan to condemn Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.