Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar in a meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said “Pakistan is not a big power like Russia”.
Video of the Minister of State of Foreign Affairs in conversation with Russian FM Sergey Lavrov is making rounds on social media. Khar said that Pakistan is not a big and powerful country like Russia in response to the question regarding the small team of Pakistani delegates present for the meeting.
The video is of the meeting between the delegates of two countries on the sidelines of the Fourth meeting of the Neighbouring Countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand. While Khar was settling down for the meeting, Russian FM Lavrov asked her about the rest of her team. It is pertinent to mention that from Pakistani delegation at that moment had only Hina Rabbani Khar and one of the officials from the foreign office. Netizens believe Lavrov perhaps asked about the Minister of Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Responding to his question, Hina Rabbani Khar said that “We are a small team, and the rest will come.” She further added that Pakistan has a small embassy and fewer people as Pakistan is not a big power like Russia.
🇵🇰🇷🇺 | Pakistan’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to Russian FM Lavrov on the sidelines of Samarkand: "We have a small team (of diplomats). We are not a big power like Russia."
Russia’s FM to Pakistan’s Hina Rabbani Khar: "We are friends, friends don’t care about the… pic.twitter.com/rcfWhXSdtp
— Brian X- Veterans for the Constitution (@admiral747) April 15, 2023
PPP have always embarrassed Pakistan. From Zardari saying drone attacks on aam Pakistanis don’t bother him, To Hina Rabbani Khar saying we’re not a big power in front of Russians.
— shahan (@xzydc) April 15, 2023
When Bilawal was being criticized for being on a world tour, visit after visit even to insignificant countries and events, jiyalas told us that's his job as foreign minister.
Can they explain why he didn't go to Afghanistan? To Samarkand? Why isn't he the one meeting Russian FM?— اسریٰ (@freakonomist5) April 15, 2023
FM Lavrov, in response, said that Pakistan and Russia are friends and size does not matter between friends.
Read more: 257th CCC: Pak Army to end terrorism through ‘whole-of-the-system’ approach
Hina Rabbani Khar is in Samarkand for the conference. Apparently, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is not present with the Pakistani delegates for the conference.
The video is gaining traction on social media. Netizens are upset with the way Minister of State of Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar tackled the conversation with Russian FM Lavrov.
Some questioned Khar for calling Pakistan a small country when the present government has a large cabinet of 90 members. Netizens think Hina Rabbani Khar’s ill-thought response has embarrassed Pakistan.