Why did India and Pakistan come on a line in the UN over Russia?

In the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), a resolution condemning the attack on Ukraine against Russia was passed by a vote of 141-5.

It has been said in this resolution that Russia should unconditionally withdraw its troops from Ukraine. In the UAGA, out of a total of 193 countries, 141 countries voted against Russia and five countries supported Russia. Russia's foreign minister has said that it has got the support of many friends and the West has failed to isolate itself after the UNGA resolution against it was passed.

One of these five is Russia itself. 35 countries did not participate in the vote. These include India, Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.

Earlier, India did not participate in the voting on the motion of condemnation against Russia in the United Nations Security Council. 120 countries, regions, and institutions delivered their speeches on the Ukraine crisis ahead of the vote at the UNGA's two-day special emergency session.

Earlier on February 25, this resolution could not be passed in the Security Council due to Russia's veto. India is a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. India had twice abstained from voting against Russia in the Security Council, along with China and the UAE. It was brought to the General Assembly of the United Nations only after the resolution was not passed in the Security Council.

96 countries were co-sponsors of this resolution against Russia in the UNGA. A two-thirds majority was needed to pass it. On February 24, Russia announced a special military operation in Ukraine.

In the resolution passed in the UNGA, it has been said that any territory acquired by force from Russia will not be recognized. Apart from this, Ukraine has been asked to withdraw troops immediately, completely, and unconditionally.

Before voting in the UNGA, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin talked on the phone. The government says that there was talk between the two heads of state on the safe evacuation of Indian students trapped in Ukraine.

India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations TS Tirumurti said after India opted out of voting that the main priority is to rescue Indian citizens, especially students, trapped in Ukraine. Tirumurti appealed for an immediate ceasefire in the conflict areas and said that the delivery of humanitarian aid should not be stopped. India has expressed hope that some results will come out in the second phase of talks between Russia and Ukraine.

India's trouble

It is being said that Russia has made India uncomfortable about its interests. Analysts say that India is finding it very difficult to strike a balance between the West and Russia.

In an interview given to famous journalist Karan Thapar, former Foreign Secretary of India Shyam Saran has said that this is the most difficult period for India's diplomacy. He has said that the challenge for India is how to keep Russia together without offending the West.

There is also a difficulty for India that China has not allowed the status quo of the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh before April 2020 and India calls it a violation of its sovereignty.

While Russia violated the sovereignty of Ukraine, India avoided condemnation. It is being said about China that it is in its interest to come openly with Russia, but everything is not so clear for India. It is being said about Pakistan not voting against Russia that it is looking for some new avenue because its interests are not being served in the American camp during the Cold War.

On Wednesday, Tirumurti said, "India has asked all member countries not to violate the principles of the UN Charter, international rules, and territorial integrity with sovereignty."

Many neighboring countries of India have supported the countries of the West in the resolution against Russia. In these, apart from Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan and military-ruled Myanmar have also voted against Russia. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China have also stayed out of voting against Russia.

The United Arab Emirates was out like India in the United Nations Security Council voting, but it switched sides in the UNGA. India was also mentioned in speeches of other countries. Russian ally Belarus said that students of India are facing racism in Ukraine. At the same time, Ukraine has expressed grief over the death of an Indian student.

India with Pakistan

Many experts are reacting to India's exclusion from voting against Russia in the UNGA. Michael Kagelman, deputy director of the Asia Program and South Asia Associate at The Wilson Center, tweeted, "India and Pakistan opted out of voting against Russia at the UNGA, but Bangladesh and Sri Lanka did the same. Relations with Bangladesh have been good with Russia from the very beginning.

Professor of International Relations Samuel Ramani wrote, "The exclusion of both India and Pakistan from voting against Russia is an exceptional alliance."

Suhasini Haider, the editor of National and Diplomatic Affairs of the English newspaper The Hindu, wrote, "In 2017 India voted against the US for moving the embassy to Jerusalem and Bhutan stayed out of voting."

Many people are also criticizing India's stay out of voting. Malini Parthasarathy, the chairperson of The Hindu Group, tweeted, "Our strategic compulsions reflect our fear of voting against Russia. India is Gandhi's country and should speak out against the sovereignty and independence of Ukraine, otherwise, our global influence is bound to be weakened.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan visited Russia on 23 February during the Ukraine crisis. He met with President Vladimir Putin. It is being said that due to the decreasing interest of America, Pakistan has already gone to China's court and is now trying to get closer to Russia.

Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has signed an agreement to import natural gas from Russia. Imran Khan has become the first leader to sign a trade deal with Russia when the world is trying to isolate Russia over its attack on Ukraine.

In his address to the nation, Imran Khan had defended the agreements with Russia. "We have signed an agreement to import natural gas because Pakistan is needed," he had said.

Although Pakistan was in the American camp in the Cold War. In the case of Russia, there is talk of Pakistan and India coming on one line, but the reasons for both the countries are different.