ISLAMABAD: Belarus Foreign Minister Sergei Aleinik is set to undertake an official visit to Islamabad this week.
Belarus is a staunch ally of Russia and is a staging ground for the Ukraine invasion. It is defying the West in its support to Moscow in Ukrainian war. Its foreign minister visiting Pakistan may certainly raise eyebrows in the Western capitals.
The Foreign Office said Aleinik is visiting Pakistan at the invitation of Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. The foreign minister will kick off his two-day trip from Tuesday.
The Foreign Office statement, however, suggested that the visit was meant to discuss bilateral ties. “The two foreign ministers will hold wide-ranging talks covering a range of topics of bilateral interest. They will undertake an overview of bilateral relations and explore enhanced cooperation in political, economic, defence and science and technology domains,” read the official handout.
“Pakistan and Belarus enjoy close and cordial relations. Foreign Minister last met his Belarusian counterpart on the sidelines of 77th Session of United Nations General Assembly in New York last year,” it added.
Belarus was part of the Soviet Union and became an independent country in 1991, after the collapse of Soviet Union. Since then, it has maintained close economic and political ties with Russia.
The country borders three NATO-member states that were once communist states: Latvia, Lithuania and Poland. While those countries and others that were part of the Soviet bloc have joined Western alliances, NATO and the EU, Belarus remained under Moscow’s influence tightly.
Strategically, Belarus is important to the Russian military effort. It shares nearly 700 miles of border with Ukraine, and Kyiv is closer to Belarus than it is to Russia. Belarus has faced western sanctions because of its close ties with Russia.
A Foreign Office official insisted: “Don’t read too much into the visit.” The official speaking on the condition of anonymity said, Pakistan had longstanding ties with Belarus and it had nothing to do with the conflict in Ukraine.
Pakistan has tried to tread carefully since Russian invaded Ukraine in February last year. Islamabad has resisted pressure to condemn Moscow’s action. It voted against Russia at the UN General Assembly.
Despite pressure from the West, Pakistan is seeking to expand ties with Russia as the current government is in a process to import oil from Moscow.
