FM denies pursuit of Russian energy

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said that Pakistan was not pursuing “discounted energy” from Russia, stressing that the government was exploring various markets to address the “energy insecurity” facing the country.

Bilawal, who is currently in New York, attended several events, including hosting the G-77 and China Ministerial Conference, a meeting with United Nations Deputy Secretary General Amina J Mohammed before addressing a news conference here.

Earlier, in an interview in American television programme ‘PBS Newshour’, the foreign minister spoke at length about a variety of topics concerning the domestic as well as regional situation, besides the Pakistan-US bilateral relations.

Responding to a question, Bilawal said that the country faced a difficult economic situation, particularly, an “energy insecurity”, but the country was not pursuing discounted energy from Russia, adding that any supply from Russia would take a long time to reach Pakistan.

“As far as Russia is concerned, we aren’t pursuing or receiving any discounted energy, but we are facing an extremely difficult economic situation, inflation, pump prices… we do have energy insecurity,” he said. “We are exploring various avenues where … [we] could get energy from,” Bilawal said.

Bilawal appeared positive that Pakistan-US relations were headed in a positive direction with increased engagement. “We’re cooperating on climate, health, business and economic opportunities, particularly for women. So, there’s a whole host of areas in which Pakistan and the US are cooperating,” he added.

When asked if Pakistan could maintain good ties with the US at the same time making trade deals with China, Bilawal said that it was “absolutely” possible.

“Pakistan had a long history or relationship with China and both the neighbours have a lot of cooperation, particularly on the economic front,” he added.

“But we also have a historical relationship with the United States. And we have partnered over the course of history, and I believe, whenever the United States and Pakistan have worked together, we have achieved great things. And whenever there’s been a distance developed between us, then we have faltered.”
The foreign minister did not subscribe the idea that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan could win if early elections were called in Pakistan. “He wouldn’t win,” Bilawal said in response to a question. “I believe this there is a false perception that’s been created about Mr. Khan’s popularity through social media.”

As far as Imran’s victories in the by-elections were concerned, the minister said, the PTI chief resigned from seats that he held himself. The PTI was “falsely portraying winning by-elections in his own seats as some sort of testaments to his popularity across Pakistan”, he added.

Responding to another question, he emphasised that Pakistan’s democratic achievement over the last decade was that it had one parliament after the other completing its five-year term. So it was not a justifiable reason to break that precedent just because Imran Khan did not remain the prime minister for last six months, he added.

He told the interviewers that Pakistan had been advocating for the world to engage with Afghanistan because “we shouldn’t repeat the mistakes of the past.” He added Pakistan would also encourage the Taliban to fulfil their commitment with the international community, with their own people, and with everybody else.

Later, addressing a news conference in New York, the foreign minister said that there was “irrefutable evidence” of India’s involvement in last year’s bomb blast in Lahore and urged the international community to bring to justice the elements responsible for terrorism in Pakistan.

He said that Chinese citizens were targeted in Karachi, while foreign elements were also active in Balochistan to create instability. He stressed that external financial support and training to terrorist groups must be stopped. To a question, he said that blaming the Muslim world for terrorism was absolutely wrong.

Earlier, speaking as the host of the G-77 and China Ministerial Conference, Foreign Minister Bilawal impressed upon the Group of 77 and China to take lead in promoting systemic and structural changes to revive sustainable global growth in the developing countries for their recovery from multiple crises.

 “The developing countries which continue to suffer from the severe impacts of climate change must be assisted, urgently and generously, to recover from these impacts, even as we start work on operationalising the Loss and Damage Fund agreed at CoP27 [summit in Egypt],” Bilawal said in his opening statement.

The ministerial meeting in New York was being held with an aim to agree on the “urgent and emergency measures required to enable the developing countries to overcome the immediate challenges of food, fuel and finance which they confront at present.

Over the past three years, the foreign minister said, the developing economies and societies had been ravaged by a series of crises: the Covid-19 pandemic; supply chain disruptions; spiralling prices; depreciating currencies; climate-induced disasters and geopolitical tensions like the Ukraine war.

“About 250 million [people] face hunger; famine haunts millions; 82 of our members [states] are debt vulnerable; [and] 54 are in debt distress. Financial austerity will freeze their growth and entrench and enlarge hunger and poverty. We must chart a path to break out of the poverty trap,” he said.

“We must also urge the developed countries to assume the burden of mitigation and reach net-zero emissions well before 2050. We must also develop vehicles that can access private capital for high-quality sustainable infrastructure investment in developing countries.”Meanwhile, talking to UN Deputy Secretary General Amina Mohammed, Bilawal sought international support for Pakistan’s long-term post-flood rehabilitation and reconstruction plan and also an effective follow-up on pledges and commitments. He called for its early operationalisation of the ‘Loss and Damage Fund’.

The deputy secretary general appreciated Pakistan’s role as Chair of G77 and China and its championing of the cause of developing countries. She expressed her commitment to work closely with Pakistan in response to floods disaster and achieving the comprehensive rehabilitation and reconstruction plan.