(whe = Qureshi justifies PM’s Russia visit, says ‘diplomatic space’ increased Peerew groans evel ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday defended Prime Minister Imran > Khan's visit to Russia against the backdrop of the Ukraine erisi, a the foreign minister said the government was convinced that the decision to go ahead with the trip was correct and it helped Increase the country’s diplomat space. speaking ta news conference here afer eturuing from Moscow, Foren Minster Shak Mehmcod (Qureshi sso revealed thatthe Bien administration had approached Pakistan before the prin minister vi a Ras wre y LIVE #A eNews : FM Shah Mahmood Qureshi addresses News Conference #lslamabad GForeignoficePe @TeamsMa c However, e sald Pakistan had shared its perspective and objecsives ofthe 1s(whe (Qureshi ls eoatemed shat bear leaving for Moszow, the government had ‘conducted in-house consultations ining rete diplomats and other camncirned people to decid whether the prime mise should vist Moscow ‘Read mores Pokistn embassy in Urine advises stranded students to travel a Terao "Wedd have constations We weghthe pros and ons ofthe vis,” Qureshi ‘id dling that kepingin view the efferent dimensions, the overament| reachod n cnetsion tha heist must proc ae planned ‘Ho sid there was cola reason for thie daision “We wanted to consldate our relationship with Rusia and through ellciv wisdom we reached @ conchasion tha ths opportnity should not be squandered” ‘The foreign minister sid one of th objectives ofthe prime minstr's sto ‘Rusia was to enance and mimi Pakistan's diplomatic space i the fest, changing lbal pots. “Our decision was correct and we believe that ou diplomatic space has Increased because ofthis visit” the foreign minister claimed. ‘The opinion a Pakistan as well as otslde was vided on whether PM Iman should have gone ahead af the vist given the Ukraine eri The Russian ‘ecsion fo Taunch ull wale itary operation against Ukraine jst hours before President Putin's meeting with Pie Minister imran had further ested the de Source sad the Pakistani delegation didnot antcpae the launch of miitary operation by Russa when they woke up inthe morning on February 24. The prime minster and other members of the delegation were eoncenned before ‘meeting President Putin. Given the sensitivity ofthe ee, the prime minister ‘rae avid to iit hi ntraetion withthe publican medi. I the orignal shed the premier wa chee eo sve an interview toa Russian mein outlet while he was also supposed to brie the Pakistani journalists before his Aepartre fr Islamabad ‘Also read: Militar confct not in anyone's interes, moon tls Putin However, none of those engagements took pce In fet Pakistan journalist were not even given any update or backeround briefing regarding the prime minister's engagements in Moscow: ‘Qureshi said he premier also gota chance to ri the Russian president on ‘he eueat situation in Afghanistan aswel asin the Indian Mealy Oceupied Jammu and Kesh According to Ue foreign minster, the engagement wih Rusia was important ven Pakistan's desire to sek regonal enectviy and in that eonnetity Moscow had a important role to pla. ‘Hesaid she engagement between the wo countries would continue at the ‘oceign ministers of Rusa ad Pakistan were el lo meet in March i China part of meeting hy the extended neighbour of Afghanistan. Neverthles despite uch ifiltie, Poreiga minister Qureshi was ‘convinced that Pakistan dd the right ting by ong abead withthe vist Sharing details ofthe vst he foreign ministers Pakistan wanteto Aevelop a mul-cimeasioal relationship with Russia covering econo, palit, energy and defence cooperation. ‘The forign minister suid Pakistan being an energy deficient country wanted to uy gas fom Rusia. Pakistan also proposed that Russa shoud establish an [ING terminal a Gwardar Port, Rusia has own interes in that propos, be ded Simi, both sides decided to fat-track some ofthe ongoing energy projets Including the Pakistan Steam Gas Pipeline. 26