Pakistan’s prime minister has urged foreign ministers from Muslim-majority nations to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine, appealing also to China’s top diplomat to join the effort.
Imran Khan spoke on Tuesday at the start of a two-day gathering in Islamabad of the 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which for the first time saw the attendance of China’s foreign minister, Wang Yi, as a special guest.
The war in Ukraine “could have great consequences for the world,” Khan warned and added that the rest of the planet is “already suffering” with surging prices of oil, gas and wheat from a region known as the breadbasket of the world.
He urged the ministers to “mediate, try to bring about a ceasefire and an end to the conflict”.
The OIC assembly in Islamabad has an formidable schedule that seeks acclaim for extra than a hundred declarations, which include useful resource for financially strapped Afghanistan and help for the Palestinians, and the humans dwelling withinside the disputed location of Kashmir.
“We have failed each the Palestinians and the humans of Kashmir. I am unhappy to mention that we were capable of make no effect at all,” he said.
“We (Muslims) are 1.five billion humans and but our voice to forestall this blatant injustice is insignificant.”
Khan has attempted to place himself at the worldwide stage, however his insistence on persevering with with a go to to Moscow closing month as Russian troops invaded Ukraine confused even his maximum ardent admirers.
He turned into additionally one of the few international leaders to wait the outlet of the Beijing Winter Olympics while others boycotted in protest at China’s human rights record.
However, Wang’s attendance on the OIC convention underscored China’s growing have an impact on amongst OIC countries – in addition to the Islamic organisation’s readiness to miss fees of tremendous assaults through Chinese government at the country’s minority Muslim Uighurs.
Khan, who has made preventing Islamophobia a pinnacle priority, has refused to sentence China over allegations of abuse towards the Uighurs. Pakistan has signed a multi-billion greenback street and power undertaking so one can hyperlink its Arabian Sea port of Gwadar to China withinside the north.
In his speech on the conference, the Chinese overseas minister stated China helps Russia and Ukraine persevering with peace talks for the sake of a ceasefire, an stop to the battle and peace.
“We want to save you humanitarian screw ups and save you the spillover of the Ukrainian disaster from affecting or harming the valid rights and hobbies of different areas and countries,” he stated.
Wang stated after the outbreak of coronavirus, Beijing supplied 1.three billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines and a massive quantity of materials to combat the virus to 50 Islamic countries.
Later, Wang met with Khan, in keeping with a central authority statement.
It stated the “ aspects mentioned the state of affairs in Ukraine and reiterated the vital want for a right away cessation of hostilities and endured efforts for an answer via sustained talk and diplomacy”.
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met one after the other together along with his Chinese counterpart, the ministry stated. The “mentioned the state of affairs in Ukraine and reiterated the want for an answer via sustained talk and diplomacy,” it stated.
Michael Kugelman, deputy director of the Asia Program on the US-primarily based totally Wilson Center, tweeted that it was “alternatively ironic” to look Wang on the convention.
“It’s additionally a reminder of the excessive cost that the OIC states location on their business family members with Beijing,” Kugelman stated.
Khan has lengthy campaigned towards developing anti-Muslim sentiment, and takes credit score for the United Nations pass ultimate week to undertake an International Day to Combat Islamophobia.
Khan is web website hosting the OIC convention while scrambling to combat a no-self belief vote withinside the National Assembly as early as subsequent week, with the competition accusing him of mismanaging the financial system and overseas policy.
