But the latest diplomatic appeal came as Pakistan, a traditional ally of the West, abstained from voting on a non-binding resolution at the United Nations General Assembly that overwhelmingly demanded Russia withdraw all troops from Ukraine. 

Out of five South Asian nations, only Nepal supported the resolution while Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka abstained. 

Munir Akram, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UN, stressed that Islamabad supported a “ceasefire and negotiations.” He justified the abstention by saying that to join the resolution would have left “no political space for diplomacy between the two sides.”

Neighbouring India, which has strong diplomatic and defence ties with Moscow, has also been walking a tightrope trying to balance its relationship with Russia and the West. It has called for respect for the “sovereignty and territorial integrity of states” while stopping short of direct criticism of Russia. 

“I want to ask the European Union ambassadors: Did you write such a letter to India?” Mr Khan said. 

He said Pakistan had suffered over its support for the Western Nato alliance in the war in Afghanistan and had received criticism instead of gratitude. 

“Have you ever acknowledged Pakistan’s support in war against terror which claimed 80,000 lives and caused other collateral damage,” he said. 

Pakistan’s foreign ministry said it had expressed its concern about the ambassadors’ statement because “it was not the way diplomacy should be practiced.”