Imran Khan’s go to to Moscow on the day of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine was a “sheer coincidence”, says Russia’s Ambassador to Pakistan

Imran Khan’s controversial go to to Moscow on the day Russia invaded Ukraine was only a “sheer coincidence,” Russia’s Ambassador to Pakistan Danila Ganich has mentioned, commenting that if he had recognized it, the then Pakistani Prime Minister “would never have visited the country that day.” Khan met President Putin within the Kremlin on February 24, the day the Russian chief ordered a “special military operation” towards neighbouring Ukraine.

By visiting Moscow, he had additionally turn out to be the primary Pakistani premier since Nawaz Sharif to go to Russia in 23 years.

Khan has claimed that his go to to Moscow, regardless of the US makes an attempt to dissuade him, additional soured Islamabad’s relations with Washington, which resulted in him getting ousted from energy in April this yr by a no-confidence vote in Parliament.

“It was just a sheer coincidence. If Imran Khan had known, he would never have visited the country that day,” Ganich mentioned in an interview with Aaj News on Sunday, whereas replying to a query relating to Khan’s claims that his go to to Russia was the explanation behind his ouster.

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The Ambassador conceded that Khan was mainly an trustworthy man who needs nicely for his nation.

When requested whether or not Russia had provided Khan’s regime wheat and oil at discounted charges, Ganich mentioned: “It’s something that I cannot comment on.” Khan had repeatedly claimed that Russia had agreed to promote wheat and oil at a horny 30 per cent low cost to Pakistan because of the efforts of his authorities.

“We had signed an agreement with Russia to buy cheap oil and wheat,” he not too long ago advised a rally in Charsadda, located in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

But Ganich mentioned Russia and Pakistan didn’t signal any such settlement.

“I can confirm that we did not conclude any memorandum of understanding (MoU),” the Ambassador mentioned through the interview.

“As for what kind of discounts could have been offered [on oil and wheat], I cannot comment on this, as these are confidential negotiations,” he asserted.

Khan, the 69-year-old cricketer-turned-politician, has been adamant that he was ousted from energy two months in the past by an alleged US-backed vote of no-confidence since Washington didn’t like his Russia coverage.

These claims have been strongly refuted by the US.