Islamabad

Britain on Friday called off a visit by Pakistan’s National Security Adviser (NSA) Moeed Yusuf scheduled for next week after Islamabad’s ties with Western countries came under strain due to its stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, The News International reported.

The report also hinted that the reaction from the UK might be associated with the Pakistan government's response to the joint press release by the Islamabad-based heads of missions of the European Union countries, along with Japan, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

The joint press release on Tuesday had urged Pakistan to join them (the EU countries) in condemning Russia's actions and to voice support for "upholding the UN Charter and the founding principles of international law in Ukraine".

Pakistan expressed its dismay over the statement terming it undiplomatic and unacceptable. Asim Iftikhar, spokesman for the Foreign Office in his media interaction on Friday made it clear that Pakistan had taken note of the joint statement issued by a group of EU envoys posted in Islamabad.

The spokesman maintained, "We expressed concern over the statement because as I said that is not the way diplomacy should be practised, and I think they have realised," The News International quoted him as saying.

The spokesperson, however, denied that the cancellation of the NSA visit was linked to Pakistan's reaction to the EU press release.

Pakistan's relationship with the Western countries has taken a hit since the visit of Prime Minister Imran Khan to Moscow on the day Russia launched its military operations in Ukraine and the subsequent stance of Pakistan in United Nations resolutions against Russia where Pakistan abstained.