Pakistan Deputy Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar stands with Ukrainian Ambassador to Pakistan Markian Chuchuk in front of humanitarian aid packages destined for Ukraine at the Nur Khan Air Force Base in Rawalpindi near Islamabad, June 2, 2022. AAMIR QURESHI / AFP
Hina Rabbani Khar, Minister of Foreign Affairs in the government of Shehbaz Sharif, who succeeded Imran Khan who was ousted by a no-confidence motion on April 10, answers questions from Le Monde during a visit to Paris. As a member of the Pakistan People’s Party, she wants to turn to the West after years of tension.
As a Muslim woman and a minister from a country neighboring Iran, how do you react to the ongoing revolt against the regime in Tehran?
We do not comment on countries’ internal affairs, but we can express ourselves by remembering what we, as a Muslim country, understand about the position of women in society. I am and was a pastor. We had a female prime minister. Parliament is the guardian of women’s rights. It is the result of a democratic struggle that has not always been easy.
I am against any commitment regarding the Islamic veil. A woman must have the choice to wear it or not. A problem that I think resonates in France in its own way. Everyone’s religion does not concern the affairs of the state.
Your country has refused to comment on the war in Ukraine. Does that mean you support Moscow?
No, we believe in multilateralism. There is no good on one side and bad on the other. For Ukraine, we consider the referendums organized by Russia on Ukrainian territory to be completely illegal and unacceptable. And we call for an immediate ceasefire. Nothing can be achieved without a dialogue of peace. Pakistan, like many countries, is paying dearly, economically and socially, for the consequences of this war in Ukraine.
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It should also be emphasized that not all countries are the same when it comes to issues of respect for human rights or illegal annexation. South Asia and Europe are not in the same boat. With Kashmir and the border dispute between us and India, we are experiencing a similar situation. Since February, many Western leaders have come to us to support Ukraine, but when asked what he would do for Kashmir, they said they had not come to talk about it. However, this represents that of the universality of the values to be defended. Today we can no longer hide behind formulas or impose our law on others, the world has changed.
According to our information, Pakistani shells are used by Ukrainian soldiers. Isn’t that a form of commitment?
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