MOSCOW: The Soviet Government attaches “great importance” to the forthcoming visit of President Ayub Khan to the Soviet Foreign Office, sources said yesterday [Nov 12]. They believe that the President’s visit will pave the way for further cooperation between the two countries in the economic and cultural fields and create better understanding on political issues. They describe the present state of relations between the two countries as “cordial”. But a source said a “great deal remains to be done to bring the two countries still nearer”. President Ayub is expected to visit the Soviet Union soon after the Presidential elections in Pakistan. Informed sources here believe that Soviet authorities, who are aware of Pakistan’s unfavourable reaction to the recent Soviet terms for trade agreement, will discuss the subject in detail with President Ayub and may place fresh proposals for economic cooperation between Pakistan and the Soviet Union.

On the question of cultural cooperation, the Soviet authorities seem anxious that the cultural agreement already in existence between the two countries is put to full use. They are keen on welcoming Pakistani students to Soviet institutions and on sending Soviet expert on lecture tours to Pakistan on academic subjects.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2014