PM Imran Khan's visit to Russia lashes back at Pakistan; US penalises Pak bank for $55 million

Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to Russia cost Pakistan $55 million. Prime Minister Imran Khan held talks with the Russian President in Moscow while Russia was attacking Ukraine. Analysts had warned that Pakistan would have to face serious consequences. Subsequently, this warning has come true. The US Federal Reserve Board and the New York State Department of Financial Services have fined a Pakistani bank for $55 million.

Despite being aware of the strong possibility of a military conflict erupting between Russia and Ukraine, the Prime Minister of Pakistan prepared to visit Russia by himself. He ignored the warnings of Pakistan analysts and media, who said that this was not the right time to visit Russia. Besides, US President Biden has not called Pakistan’s Prime Minister since reigning to power. Thus, the Prime Minister of Pakistan tried to display his inclination towards Russia to express his dissatisfaction over that fact.

But, he was neither welcomed in Russia. Even the Russian President did not heed Pak PM’s visit. Despite this, Prime Minister Khan claimed that his visit was a success. But Pakistan’s journalists and analysts said that the United States would soon respond to it and it did. The Federal Reserve Board of the United States fined a Pakistani bank $20,400,000 for violating laws against illegal transfer of funds. Whereas, New York State Department of Financial Services has ordered a Pakistani bank to pay a fine of about $35 million.

Furthermore, US action against Pakistan will not stop here. A meeting of the Financial Action Task Force-FATF will be held soon. Pakistan’s media has been drawing attention to the fact that Pakistan, which is on the FATF’s grey list, could be blacklisted at the behest of the US. The media has criticised all this because of Imran Khan’s reckless policy. Besides, the Prime Minister of Pakistan visited Russia for no reason. The media is pointing out that nothing has been done in the hands of Pakistan, but on the contrary, there has been an enormous loss.

Imran Khan would have to face substantial political consequences. Opposition leaders have mocked him on the issue. Analysts have warned that the consequences of this naive leader’s policies will have to be borne by the future generations of Pakistan. In any case, Pakistan must understand that Russia can’t give Pakistan as much importance as India. At the same time, Pakistan must accept that it cannot match India. Some journalists have earnestly appealed to people to understand, at least now, that Pakistan won’t be spared if it takes decisions to challenge the United States, given its capabilities and influence.