Pakistan has decided to give the Democracy Summit in Washington a skip owing to its close ties with China. The virtual summit, being co-sponsored by the US Department of State and USAID, begins on Tuesday.
China, along with Turkey, has not been invited to the summit.
Pakistan has opted instead to engage with the US bilaterally to strengthen democratic values, the Foreign Office said.
The virtual summit is being organised on the theme of "Global Declaration of Mayors for Democracy".
Pakistan's participation in the summit has been a subject of intense debate for some time now.
“The Summit process is now at an advanced stage and therefore, Pakistan would engage bilaterally with the US and co-hosts of the Summit to promote and strengthen democratic principles and values and work towards advancing human rights and the fight against corruption," Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson told the media.
However, the Foreign Office thanked the US for inviting Pakistan to attend the Second Summit for Democracy.
“We value our friendship with the US. Under this Biden Administration, this relationship has widened and expanded substantially. We remain committed to further solidifying this relationship for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region,” the Foreign Office said.
The three-day event will showcase the role of cities and sub-national governments in the affirmation of democratic values and the renewal of democracy worldwide.
(PTI)
6.9K views · 135 reactions | I’m genuinely shocked and saddened by reports that Will Jackson, Conservative candidate for North Harrow in the elections next month, has told British-born Asian MPs like Rishi Sunak and Shabana Mahmood that they are “not British” and should “go back to Pakistan,” He also suggested figures like Anthony Joshua and Dua Lipa aren’t British.I have raised this important matter in Parliament today, because there is no place for racism in our politics.I’m proud of Harrow’s diverse, close-knit communities. Every candidate should seek to unite people, not divide them.This matter must be taken seriously. I welcome the Conservative Party’s statement that Mr Jackson’s comments are wholly unacceptable and their decision to suspend him.But serious questions remain about how he was selected as a candidate in the first place, and why he was considered fit to represent our community.https://bylinetimes.com/2026/04/13/conservative-candidate-tells-british-mps-to-go-back-to-pakistan/🎥 👇 | Gareth Thomas MP 
