Islamabad rejects allegations of Pakistani involvement in Russia-Ukraine conflict

Islamabad: Pakistan has strongly rejected allegations of its nationals participating as mercenaries in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, calling the claims “baseless and unfounded.”

The Foreign Office (FO) clarified on Tuesday that no formal communication had been received from the Ukrainian government, nor had any verifiable evidence been provided to support the accusations. “The Government of Pakistan will take up the matter with Ukrainian authorities and seek clarification,” the FO said in a statement.

The allegations emerged after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy claimed that Ukrainian troops in the northeastern Kharkiv region were facing foreign mercenaries from various countries, including Pakistan, China, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and some African nations. Zelenskiy made the statement after visiting the frontline city of Vovchansk, asserting that Ukraine would “respond” to the reported involvement of foreign fighters.

This is not the first time such claims have surfaced. In 2023, Pakistan had also denied accusations of supplying arms to Ukraine in exchange for an IMF bailout, reaffirming its policy of strict neutrality in the conflict. The claims, made by US-based publication The Intercept, alleged that Pakistan had sent weapons to Ukraine via the United States, citing internal documents and unnamed sources from both governments.

Earlier this week, Pakistan again highlighted its neutral stance at the UN Security Council, emphasizing the urgent need for a comprehensive ceasefire and a revival of diplomatic efforts to end the war.

Pakistan maintains that it has consistently supported peaceful resolution of the conflict and reiterated that any suggestion of its involvement on the battlefield is entirely unfounded and misleading.