As explosions rained down in Ukraine, Prime Minister Imran Khan’s inopportune trip to Russia has garnered concerns from Pakistani observers back home.
On Thursday morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered a military operation into Ukraine, just hours after the Prime Minister’s plane landed on the tarmac in Moscow.
“What a time I have come, so much excitement”, PM Imran Khan reportedly commented upon landing.
“Pakistani PM Imran Khan and his large delegation have touched down in Moscow. An interesting 24 hours lie ahead” wrote analyst Michael Kugelman.
"What a time I have come, so much excitement", Pakistan PM Imran Khan's first few comments after landing in Moscow, Russia. pic.twitter.com/LLUrSnwYBw
— Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) February 23, 2022
As expected Imran Khan is now in a fix. Just a few hours before meeting him President Putin has announced military invasion of independent sovereign state Ukraine. Europe on the verge of war. It was terrible timing for Russian visit,embarrassing for Khan to be with Putin today 🙈 pic.twitter.com/M09KlLK1F3
— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) February 24, 2022
Pakistan Muslim League-N (PML-N) MPA Hina Parvez Butt said, “Pakistan has already been alienated from the rest of the world. Imran Khan’s visit to Russia at this crucial moment when world is condemning Putin’s aggression can mean diplomatic problems for [Pakistan].”
Pakistan has already been alienated from the rest of the world. Imran Khan’s visit to Russia at this crucial moment when world is condemning Putin's aggression can mean diplomatic problems for Pak. Imran Khan's lust for self projection has translated into foreign policy disasters pic.twitter.com/HX3s5ibdBn
— Hina Parvez Butt (@hinaparvezbutt) February 24, 2022
“The hype around PM Imran’s Moscow visit [would] have made sense if Putin wasn’t changing Ukraine’s borders, starting 3rd cold war with EU, US and UK. “We are not part of any bloc” and yet we sit and sup with Putin. And do we REALLY want to endorse actions to alter borders by force?” remarked journalist Syed Talat Hussain.
The hype around PM Imran’s Moscow visit wud have made sense if Putin wasn’t changing Ukraine’s borders, starting 3rd cold war with EU, US and UK. “We are not part of any bloc” and yet we sit and sup with Putin. And do we REALLY want to endorse actions to alter borders by force?
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 24, 2022
“The timing of PM Imran Khan’s visit to Russia is perfect, for all the wrong reasons,” summarised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founding member Akbar Babar
The timing of PM Imran Khan's visit to Russia is perfect, for all the wrong reasons.
— Akbar S. Babar PTI (@asbabar786) February 23, 2022
No fan of IK, but this was not a bad move, simply because we do not have a lot to lose in terms of the level of engagement we have with US/the west right now.
US has said, and it is pretty clear that its current level of engagement with Pakistan is the absolute bare minimum necessary for US vital counterterrorism interests. US “wrath” over this Russia visit is not going to decrease the engagement any lower than it currently is. However, it will improve ties with an increasingly assertive/emboldened Russia, which is good.
And, paradoxically, it may actually lead to the US/EU increasing its engagement with Pakistan now that they are trying even harder to counter Putin’s influence. The last thing they’re going to want, already having to deal with NK, China, and now an erratic Putin is to add a fourth nuclear power with 200 million crazies to the list of enemies.
Azerbaijani president also met Putin for a bilateral yesterday, EU and USA aren’t going into pieces about it. Why are we so subservient/afraid of not toeing the line that others set?