LONDON: Pakistan High Commission in London said that the Indian delegation refused to participate in a crucial debate at the Oxford Union at the last minute, resulting in the Pakistani delegation winning uncontested.
The Pakistani delegation included Minister of State Hina Rabbani Khar, General (retd) Zubair Mahmood Hayat and Dr. Faisal, who were present in London and were ready to participate in the debate. However, Pakistan succeeded in presenting its position after the Indian delegation refused to provide speakers.
The Indian delegation had offered low-level speakers, but the Pakistani delegation rejected the offer as they were not up to standard. The Pakistan High Commission said in its statement that the Indian delegation’s attempt to change the scheduled speakers affected the credibility of the debate. Especially despite the presence of a majority of Indian students at Oxford, the Indian delegation refused to face the vote.
According to the Pakistani High Commission, Indian speakers tried to sabotage the debate to avoid potential embarrassment due to their inability to face logical questions raised at the Oxford Union on India’s security policy.
In the face of the Pakistani delegation’s preparedness and well-reasoned arguments, India adopted a strategy of retreat, resulting in a landslide victory for Pakistan.
The Oxford Union debate is a prestigious platform where prominent figures from around the world express their views and discuss global issues. The union has a long history and the debates held in it have a global impact.
Relations between Pakistan and India have always been tense, and these relations often lead to disputes at international forums. In this debate at the Oxford Union, delegations from both countries were also supposed to express their positions. However, the sudden withdrawal of the Indian delegation made the debate unusual.
According to the Pakistani High Commission in London, the Indian delegation withdrew its confirmed speakers and offered lower-level speakers, who were not up to Pakistan’s standards. Pakistan rejected the offer and sent its delegation to participate in the debate with full preparation.
The Indian delegation’s attempt to change speakers at the last minute affected the credibility of the debate, especially among Indian students at Oxford University. The High Commission also highlighted that the Indian delegation adopted an avoidance strategy instead of participating in the scheduled debate to avoid potential questions and controversies.
It was indeed a pivotal moment, where India opted to withdraw rather than participate in the debate, while Pakistan emerged victorious through its preparedness, well-reasoned arguments and strong stance. This incident marks another turning point in the relations between the two countries, where Pakistan presented its position in a strong and effective manner at global forums.
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