By: Naseebullah Khan
At a juncture when Pakistan is in the clinches of foreign policy dilemma and economic fragility, and when the world is against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the visit of the Prime minister in an inappropriate time is a bad move whose shockwaves could bring negative implications for the country.
Economically, Russia is the second biggest producer of Gas and crude oil in the world. Expert fear that the invasion will climb up the rising Gas and Oil prices in the world. At present crude Oil is 97 dollars per barrel. A rise in 10 to 20 dollars in Oil per barrel would mean an extra burden of 1 to 2 billion USD on our reserves that will further impact the country’s growth and will increase inflation.
On the other side, Ukraine is one of the biggest producers of Wheat. Pakistan is a key destination for its Wheat and imported 1.3 million tons last year which was around 40 percent of Pakistan,s total Wheat imports. The war could have implications on the production and supply of Wheat in Ukraine would have negative implications for Pakistan too. Moreover, Pakistan exported goods of 31 million to Ukraine last and imported almost all semiconductors from Ukraine. Analysts observe that the war can affect this sector which will have a huge impact on Pakistan,s automobile industry.
Politically, the poor timing of the visit will have far-reaching consequences. True that the bilateral relations between two states have been witnessing positive signs but, at a time when the whole world community is criticizing the Russian invasion, the visit would not send a positive message to the international community including the UNO that has called the invasion against international law. It will lead us to bloc politics again in the current cold war contrary to our commitment to no bloc politics that the government recently affirmed in its Current national ecurity policy.
Sane are those who go with time and tide. The ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine and the visit of Imran Khan during the war on one side could bring economic drawbacks for Pakistan but, on the flip side, it would not send a good message to the world community that is against the Russian invasion. At a time when Pakistan is dependent on bailouts of the IMF and the sword of Damocles is hanging on our head, the current visit of Imran Khan does not make any sense.
The writer is a freelance columnist. He tweets at @Naseebk95976870
