Islamabad: Belarusian President Lukashenko returned home after a three-day visit.
Although the visit did not receive much attention due to the focus on the PTI protest, high-level talks were being held between Pakistan and Belarus at the Prime Minister’s House while police and paramilitary units were trying to control the situation in Islamabad.
According to the Express Tribune, the Belarusian President, who is seen as a satellite state of Moscow due to his close ties with Russia, has repeatedly conveyed Russia’s strong messages to European countries that have supplied weapons to Ukraine.
He is an ally of Russia in the Ukraine war and there are also Russian military bases in the country. In this context, the West is closely watching President Lukashenko’s visit.
According to diplomatic circles, at a time when Russia-West relations are extremely tense, President Lukashenko’s visit to Pakistan is of utmost importance. Concern has also been expressed over the bilateral visits of Pakistani and Russian officials this year.
The US has been keeping a close eye on Pak-Belarus ties, with the US imposing sanctions on a Belarusian company in April, accusing it of providing technology for Pakistan’s missile programme.
Sources refuted the impression, saying that despite its dependence on the West, Pakistan is seeking to diversify its foreign policy options.
