China, Islamic countries should work together for peace in Russia-Ukraine conflict: Imran Khan

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan has suggested that close ally China and Islamic countries should mediate in the Russia-Ukraine conflict and try to bring about a ceasefire.

“May I suggest that OIC (Organization of Islamic Cooperation) during its discussion with foreign ministers, we should think about how … how we can mediate, how we can bring about the ceasefire. I want to discuss how, maybe OIC along with China, we can all step in and try to stop this conflict which is going to have, if it keeps going the way it is, it would have great consequences for the rest of the world,” he opined in his speech at the 48th Session of the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers here.

The OIC is holding the 48th Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers, which more than 600 delegates are attending, including Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi as a special guest, in Islamabad. PM Khan’s comments came hours after China and Pakistan echoed concerns about “spill-over effects of unilateral sanctions” on Russia, according to a statement by the Chinese foreign ministry.

China has not condemned Russia’s invasion, though it has expressed concern about the war. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Le Yucheng mentioned last Saturday that Western sanctions against Russia were getting “more and more outrageous”.

PM Khan was in Moscow to meet President Vladimir Putin the day Russian forces entered Ukraine. Pakistan has expressed concern about the repercussions of the invasion but also stopped short of condemning it.

Pakistan abstained from the UN General Assembly vote that condemned Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.