PARIS: The French President, Gen Charles de Gaulle, said here today [Nov 29] that France would actively support Pakistan’s efforts to settle peacefully with India “the grave affair of Kashmir” or to help end the drama in South-East Asia, which had been “kept going by intervention from abroad.”

In a toast at a luncheon for President Ayub Khan, President de Gaulle said there was “no dispute” between France and Pakistan, which were now “closer together in every way”.

He said that since Pakistan’s independence President Ayub had taken charge “with courage and ability”.

President de Gaulle reminded President Ayub Khan that France’s aims “in this troubled world” were “equilibrium in progress and peace”. He assured Pakistan of France’s friendly help in its efforts “to remain alive and intact in the region”.

President Ayub Khan said that the world would be “a better place” if there were more men like General de Gaulle in it. President Ayub also thanked France for its economic aid in helping Pakistan “into the age of science and technology”. He thought that his country had made the best use of it. “Some people,” he said, “cited Pakistan as the model of a developing state.”

[Meanwhile, as reported by our Special Representative,] the Colombo Plan conference yesterday heard Pakistan voice apprehension that the focus of foreign aid policy was shifting from its fundamental objective of struggle against poverty to short-term political objectives.

The leader of Pakistan’s delegation, Mr M.M. Ahmad, warned the 17th conference of the Plan Consultative Committee that the magnitude of the problems posed by development was outgrowing the combined efforts of the developed and developing countries; and also appealed: “Let us act before it is too late.”

The “debt explosion” might prove more serious than the population explosion, he said.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2016