Pakistan has declined to attend the second Summit for Democracy initiated by United States President Joe Biden, after intense internal discussions.
Pakistan was also invited to the 2021 summit but did not attend due to concerns regarding China. In addition to Taiwan, the United States has invited over 100 countries this year, but China has once again been excluded.
The Pakistani Foreign Office announced in a statement that they would not be attending the summit hours before it started. Pakistan thanked for being invited to the Summit for Democracy and emphasised its dedication to democratic principles, human rights, and basic liberties.
The statement went on to provide more details about Pakistan’s celebration of the 1973 Constitution’s 50th anniversary, which served as the cornerstone for Pakistan’s democratic political system.
The US’s decision to invite Taiwan but not China or Turkey to the summit complicated Pakistan’s decision. Pakistan has strong ties with both China and Turkey, so any decision would need to take both nations’ interests into account, especially Beijing’s worries.
Due to China’s exclusion, Pakistan had opted out of the first US democracy summit in December 2021. Pakistan stayed away from the summit as well because President Biden did not speak with then-Prime Minister Imran Khan, who was only asked to send a recorded video statement.
Beijing had praised Pakistan’s choice, which strengthened the idea that Pakistan had made it at China’s urging.
Both Pakistan and the US have made overt attempts to mend fences since the change of power in April of last year. The US’s assistance in Pakistan’s IMF bailout request could be very important.
Pakistan, however, cannot afford to offend China, whose assistance is vital to the nation’s survival in the absence of an IMF agreement.
According to a source, Pakistan must remain neutral and avoid getting involved in power struggles between major countries.
The statement also emphasised that the Summit process is currently in an advanced stage and that Pakistan would work bilaterally with the United States and the Summit co-hosts to promote and strengthen democratic principles and values, advance human rights, and combat corruption.
Pakistan has made the decision to forego attending the Summit for Democracy, a gesture that highlights both its gratitude for the invitation and its dedication to democratic principles. The invitation to Taiwan and the exclusion of China and Turkey complicated Pakistan’s decision.
The nation cannot afford to alienate China, whose assistance is essential, especially in the absence of an IMF agreement. Pakistan will interact bilaterally with the US and summit co-hosts to further advance and strengthen democratic values and principles.
