ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Tuesday Pakistan and other “non-partisan” countries were in a position to act as peacemakers and help efforts to bring the war in Ukraine to an end.
Khan was in Moscow when Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered his armed forces to invade the neighboring Eastern European country.
Pakistan faced mounting international pressure to condemn the conflict in Ukraine that was widely viewed as a war of aggression, though its foreign minister and other officials said their country was going to retain a “neutral” stance.
Khan issued his latest statement after receiving a phone call from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“The Prime Minister underlined that non-partisan countries like Pakistan were in a position to play a helpful role in reinforcing efforts for cessation of hostilities and a diplomatic solution,” said an official statement circulated in Islamabad after the phone call.
He highlighted the adverse economic impact of the conflict on developing countries, adding it could be seen in rising prices of oil and other commodities.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan emphasized the importance of humanitarian relief for the civilians and underlined that Pakistan has dispatched two C-130 airplanes with humanitarian relief assistance for people in Ukraine,” the statement added.
He also recalled the recent meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), saying that all Muslim countries had expressed deep concern over the deteriorating security and humanitarian situation arising from the conflict in Ukraine.
The prime minister also expressed appreciation for the Ukrainian authorities for helping with the evacuation of Pakistani students and nationals as well as embassy staff.
He applauded efforts made by other countries to facilitate diplomatic solution.
The war in Ukraine has triggered a refugee crisis in the region.
According to some estimates, about 3.9 million people have left Ukraine while nearly 6.5 million have been internally displaced since the beginning of the war.
PM Khan tells Ukrainian president 'non-partisan' states can act as peacemakers
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PM Khan tells Ukrainian president 'non-partisan' states can act as peacemakers
- The conflict in Ukraine began last month after the Russian president ordered his forces to invade the Eastern European country
- Pakistan faced mounting international pressure to condemn the ensuing conflict, but decided to retain a ‘neutral’ stanc
Pakistan says it seized 32 square kilometers inside Afghanistan as border clashes escalate
- Security official describes ‘limited tactical action’ in Gudwana after Afghan assaults
- Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering militants as UN, China and Russia urge restraint
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has seized a 32-square-kilometer area inside Afghanistan following overnight fighting, a security official said on Saturday, as cross-border clashes between the two countries escalated sharply.
A Pakistani security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said troops carried out a “limited tactical action” in the Gudwana area opposite the Zhob sector along the frontier, capturing Afghan territory after responding to attacks on Pakistani positions.
“On the night of Feb. 26/27, posts opposite the Zhob sector launched anticipated physical attacks on multiple Pakistani positions,” the official said, referring to fighters linked to Afghanistan’s Taliban authorities, whom Islamabad identifies as Tehreek-e-Taliban Afghanistan (TTA).
“In response to aggressive unprovoked fire and physical attacks, Pakistan security forces launched a limited tactical action on the night of Feb. 27/28 in the general area of Gudwana with a view to capture TTA Tahir Post,” he continued, adding that 32 square kilometers of Afghan territory were seized.
The official said special combat teams crossed the border after preparatory bombardment, supported by intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets providing “real-time battlefield awareness.”
He said 24 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed and 37 wounded, with no Pakistani casualties reported.
The claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate confirmation from Taliban authorities in Kabul of any territorial loss in the Gudwana area.
The latest clashes erupted after Pakistani airstrikes targeted what Islamabad described as militant hideouts inside Afghanistan over the weekend, triggering retaliatory fire along the frontier and sharply escalating long-running tensions. Islamabad accuses Kabul of sheltering Pakistani Taliban militants responsible for attacks inside Pakistan, an allegation that Afghanistan denies.
Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday evening that 352 Afghan Taliban fighters had been killed and more than 535 wounded since the latest phase of hostilities began.
Tarar said Pakistani strikes had destroyed 130 check posts, 171 tanks and armored vehicles and targeted 41 locations across Afghanistan by air. Those figures could not be independently verified.
The United Nations, as well as China and Russia, have called for restraint.
The United States said Pakistan has the right to defend itself against cross-border militancy.
