Prime Minister Imran Khan praised India on Sunday for purchasing crude oil from Russia despite US sanctions.
Khan is a vocal opponent of the governing NDA administration, which is led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. However, during his speech at a public gathering in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa region, he informed his followers that he would want to congratulate neighbouring India for its “independent foreign policy.”
Khan discussed India’s determination to import oil from Russia despite American sanctions while still a member of the Quad.
The prime minister stated that his foreign policy will also benefit the people of Pakistan.
Pakistan PM Imran Khan could be heard saying, “Main aaj Hindustan ko daad deta hun (Today, I salute India). It has always maintained an independent foreign policy.”
“India is a member of Quad alliance, with the United States as one of its members. But India still calls itself neutral. India is importing oil from Russia, which is facing sanctions. This is because India’s foreign policy is for its people,” Khan added.
Breaking with the norm of not openly addressing complex foreign-policy issues at public rallies, Khan stated that he had told EU envoys “absolutely not” upon their requesting Pakistan’s help against Russia in the Russia-Ukraine dispute that “they breached protocol by making the request.” “We became part of America’s war against terror in Afghanistan and lost 80,000 people and USD 100 billion,” he said.
Imran Khan’s comment comes as he risks being removed from power after some MPs from the governing party withdrew their support for the Pakistan Prime Minister ahead of a no-confidence vote.
On March 8, approximately 100 lawmakers from two opposition parties, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), filed a no-confidence motion with the National Assembly Secretariat, accusing the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) government led by Khan of being responsible for the country’s economic crisis and surging inflation.
The National Assembly session for the move is planned to commence on March 21, with vote scheduled for March 25.
