Pakistan: Imran Khan Plays S Jaishankar's Video In Rally, Says 'Ye Hota Hai Azaad Mulk' | WATCH

Imran Khan, speaking to a large crowd in Lahore, presented a video clip of Jaishankar at the Bratislava Forum in Slovakia and commended him for resisting US pressure to buy cheap oil from Russia.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan.

Source : Getty Images

Former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has praised India for its autonomous foreign policy while criticising the West for criticising India for buying Russian energy, news agency ANI reported.

Imran Khan, speaking to a large crowd in Lahore, presented a video clip of Foreign Minister S Jaishankar at the Bratislava Forum in Slovakia and commended him for resisting US pressure to buy cheap oil from Russia.

Addressing the gathering, Imran Khan stated: "If India which got independence at the same time as Pakistan and if New Delhi can take a firm stand and make their foreign policy as per the need of its people then who are they (Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif government) who are towing the line."

Imran Khan plays a clip of @DrSJaishankar in his Independence Day address

At this rate, BJP can win some seats in Pakistan soon too. pic.twitter.com/LVLC0heBu6

— Girish (@vikramaditya205) August 13, 2022

"They (US) ordered India to not buy oil from Russia. India is US' strategic ally, Pakistan is not. Let us see what India's Foreign Minister said when the US asked them not to buy Russian oil," he added.

Imran Khan then showed a video footage of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

While lauding India, Khan said, "Jaishankar is telling them who are you? Jaishakar said that Europe is buying gas from Russia and we will buy it as people need it. This is what an independent country is ('yeh hoti hai azad haqumat')."

He also chastised the Shehbaz Sharif administration for capitulating to US pressure to acquire Russian oil.

"We had spoken to Russia about buying cheaper oil but this government has no courage to say no to US pressure. Fuel prices are skyrocketing, people are below the poverty line. I am against this slavery," he said. 

The Jaishankar footage broadcast at Lahore Jalsa was from June 3, when, in answer to a query about India buying Russian oil, he said, "Is buying Russian gas not funding the war?"

These statements were given by Jaishankar during the GLOBSEC 2022 Bratislava Forum, which was held in Slovakia on the theme 'Taking Friendship to the Next Level: Allies in the Indo-Pacific Region.'

He had responded to unjust criticism of India's purchase of Russian oil in the midst of the Ukraine war, which has had a knock-on impact on the global economy.

While defending India's Russian oil imports, Jaishankar emphasised the need of understanding how the Ukraine war affects poor nations.

He further questioned why only India was being investigated when Europe continued to receive Russian gas despite the Ukraine conflict.

In response to a query on whether India's oil supplies from Russia are fueling the ongoing Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar stated, "Look I don't want to sound argumentative. If India funding Russia oil is funding the war...Tell me then buying Russian gas is not funding the war? It's only Indian money and Russian oil coming to India funding the war and not Russia's gas coming to Europe not funding? Let's be a little even-handed."

(With ANI Inputs)