‘Neutral’ Pakistan will skip Ukraine summit in Switzerland
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has turned down Switzerland’s invitation to the Ukraine Peace Summit citing scheduling conflicts and other considerations.
"Pakistan received an invitation from Switzerland for the Conference, which is being held from 15th to 16th of June. However, due to a host of factors, including scheduling challenges, Pakistan is not participating in this conference,” FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said at the weekly media briefing.
The two-day summit being held at the Bürgenstock resort outside the city of Lucerne in Switzerland is designed to gather international support for Ukraine’s vision of peace, detailed in Ukrainian President Zelensky’s ten-point peace formula.
Despite the invite to 160 countries, only about 90 are attending, with notable absences including China, and several important counties from Global South, which have shown unwillingness to join an anti-Russia forum and peace discussions in Moscow’s absence.
Beijing rejected the allegation.
Expectations for tangible outcomes are modest because of Moscow’s absence.
Islamabad’s decision to skip the conference is a diplomatic move to maintain neutrality in the conflict, especially since Russia is not participating in it. Pakistan has historically maintained good relations with Ukraine, having purchased weapons systems from it in the past, but has also been strengthening ties with Russia in recent years.
“We reiterate our call for immediate cessation of hostilities and stress the need for diplomacy and dialogue for an early negotiated end to the conflict between Ukraine and Russia,” the spokesperson said.
“Pakistan stands for universal and consistent application of UN Charter principles, including non-use or threat of use of force, respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of states, pacific settlement of disputes, and equal security for all states,” she added.
Despite the invite to 160 countries, only about 90 are attending.
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