WASHINGTON: The relations between Pakistan and the United States periodically subjected to strains and stresses may take a turn for the worse as a result of the abrupt cancellation of President Ayub’s visit to Washington, according to political observers here.

The extremely short notice with which the visit was put off by President Johnson himself and the manner it was conveyed are said to be contrary to proper diplomatic behaviour. Although Secretary of State Dean Rusk went out of his way to express regret at the sudden cancellation of our President’s visit during a meeting with Pakistan Ambassador G. Ahmed, the fact remains that President Johnson deliberately chose to miss an opportunity of having direct talks with President Ayub which might have helped to iron out some of the differences that occasionally plague Pakistan-US relations. It was being inferred here that President Johnson apparently placed little importance on improving ties with Pakistan.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Jakarta] President Soekarno said today [April 18] countries like India, South Korea, South Viet-Nam, Formosa and the South Arabian Federation were “non-Asian countries in Asia”. In his speech at the solemn opening session of this week’s celebrations marking the tenth anniversary of the First Afro-Asian Conference, Dr Soekarno said that if the United Nations were to continue its “mistakes” this world organisation might “follow the footsteps of the League of Nations.”

He said that the attention of the world was being focussed upon the New Emerging Forces in Asia and Africa.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2015

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