Staff Report
ISLAMABAD:
Pakistan has demanded an official explanation from Ukraine after President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that foreign mercenaries, including individuals from Pakistan, were taking part in the conflict against Russian forces in northeastern Ukraine.
The allegation, made in a social media post by Zelensky on Monday, included Pakistan among countries such as China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and various African states, whose nationals were allegedly fighting alongside Ukrainian forces in the volatile Vovchansk sector.
Reacting strongly, the Foreign Office (FO) of Pakistan on Tuesday categorically rejected the accusation and described it as unsubstantiated and misleading. The FO clarified that no evidence had been shared by Ukrainian authorities and that Pakistan had not been contacted through any official channel to discuss such concerns.
“To date, Pakistan has not been formally approached by the Ukrainian authorities, nor has any verifiable evidence been presented to substantiate such claims,” the FO said in its statement.
The FO added that Pakistan would seek official clarification from Kyiv, reiterating its long-held stance of neutrality and support for a diplomatic resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
“Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter,” it said.
President Zelensky’s post had noted: “Our warriors in this sector are reporting the participation of mercenaries from China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, and African countries in the war. We will respond.”
The claim comes amid ongoing international scrutiny of the two-year-long Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022. Pakistan has consistently distanced itself from the conflict and has denied supplying arms or fighters to either side.
In a similar case last year, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, during his 2023 visit to Islamabad, had also dismissed media reports that Pakistan was providing weapons to Ukraine. He confirmed that no arms deal existed between the two countries.
Despite traditionally strong military cooperation with Ukraine, Pakistan has in recent years deepened ties with Russia, including in energy and defense sectors—making neutrality a central element of Islamabad’s foreign policy in the conflict.
The FO’s response indicates Pakistan’s intent to safeguard its diplomatic credibility and avoid entanglement in geopolitical rivalries where its neutrality could be questioned without evidence.
