Islamabad:
Pakistan has rejected the “baseless and unfounded” claim from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who fought Pakistani citizens as mercenaries in the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday, the Pakistani government said it had not been formally contacted by Ukrainian authorities, nor had any verifiable evidence in support of such claims.
“Pakistan’s government categorically rejects the baseless and unfounded accusations of involving Pakistani nationals in the conflict in Ukraine,” the statement reads. “Pakistan’s government must take up this case with the Ukrainian authorities and seek clarification in this regard.”
Pakistan repeated his support for a peaceful solution of the conflict through dialogue and diplomacy in accordance with the charter of the United Nations.
The response came hours after President Zelenskyy, during a visit to front -line positions in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv -Region, claimed that foreign warriors from several countries, including Pakistan, had joined Russian forces in the ongoing war.
“Our warriors in this sector report the participation of mercenaries from China, Tadsjikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan and African countries in the war. We will answer,” Zelenskyy posted at X.
Zelenskyy had previously accused Moscow of recruiting Chinese warriors, refused a claim Beijing. Kyiv has also claimed that North Korea deployed thousands of troops in support of Russian forces in the Kursk region.
Despite repeated allegations of foreign mercenary involvement, independent verification of such claims has been limited. Pakistan has consistently maintained a neutrality policy in the Ukraine conflict.
Since the conflict in Russia-Ukraine began, the Pakistan tread has carefully and adopted a neutral attitude. Pakistan remained under pressure from the West to take a clear position and condemn Russia, but Islamabad opposed it and failed to vote against Moscow at the United Nations on several occasions.
In the midst of all this, however, there were reports that Pakistan may have delivered ammunition to Ukraine through a third country. Islamabad always denied these charges and insisted that they had no direct role in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The latest claim from the Ukrainian president once again brought Pakistan’s alleged role in the limelight. It came at a time when President Donald Trump put enormous pressure on India to stop buying oil and weapons from Russia.
Trump has threatened to introduce additional tasks on Indian goods intended for the US market.
