'What do you consider us? Your slaves?' Pakistani PM Khan lashes out at Europe over Ukraine stance

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has lashed out at EU criticism of Islamabad for its refusal to speak out against Russia's invasion of Ukraine.   

Pakistan has been under growing pressure to condemn Moscow's brutal assault on Ukraine with Khan in the Russian capital when the invasion was launched.

He said that European countries should stop their criticism of Pakistan over its decision to remain 'neutral' on the matter.

"What do you consider us? Your slaves? That we should do whatever you say?" he said at a political rally.

His comments were in response to a 1 March letter by 22 Pakistan-based foreign envoys urging Islamabad to reprimand Moscow for its brutal invasion of Ukraine before a vote in the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on 2 March.

"Are we your slaves?" Imran Khan was not happy about a recent letter from European Union and he dragged India into his outburst... pic.twitter.com/CQ3CCvPmoP

— Brut India (@BrutIndia) March 7, 2022

Pakistan eventually abstained from voting at the UNGA, while the overwhelming majority of countries condemned Moscow's heinous actions against its neighbour.

"I want to ask the European Union ambassadors: Did you write such a letter to India?" Imran Khan said, noting that New Delhi has also not directly condemned Moscow.

Pakistan has been a traditional ally of Saudi Arabia and the US, but also has a growing relationship with Russia.

Islamabad has also been angered by US intervention in South Asia, including the invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, toppling the Pakistan-backed Taliban government and leading to violence spilling over the border into Pakistan.

Khan said that around 80,000 Pakistanis were killed following the invasion, mostly from American drone strikes in north-western Pakistan.

Islamabad felt especially betrayed by the US killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, where President Obama chose not to share intelligence with an ally.