KUWAIT: Kuwait yesterday [July 12] demanded that Britain withdraw her troops from the Persian Gulf by the end of 1971 as originally planned. A statement issued by the Foreign Ministry “insisted” that the new Conservative Government carry out this pledge made by the former Labour Government. Conservative policy is to keep troops East of Suez. “Kuwait is opposed to the maintenance of British forces in the Persian Gulf region,” the statement said.Interior and Defence Minister Sheikh Saad el-Sabah commented that “the Governments of the Persian Gulf know better than anybody what is needed to assure the stability and development of the region”.

Press reports yesterday said the Kuwait Foreign Minister would hold talks this week with Iraqi leaders on the Gulf’s future and the presence of the British troops there. Iran and Saudi Arabia will also oppose any departure by Britain from the decision to pull out all British troops from the Persian Gulf by the end of next year.

This was the result of talks in the Saudi port of Jeddah on Saturday and Sunday between Iranian Foreign Minister, Mr Ardeshir Zahedi, and acting Saudi Foreign Minister, Mr Omar Sakkaf, it was learnt. — Agency

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2020