RABAT: Pakistan will not break off relations with the Soviet Union, following Moscow’s recognition of Bangla Desh, President Z.A. Bhutto said here today [Jan 25] on arrival for a brief visit. Mr Bhutto, on a tour of Arab capitals, said that for the moment he had decided only to recall the Pakistani Ambassador to the Soviet Union to Rawalpindi to discuss the situation. He told a Press conference here that one of the reasons for the visits to Muslim countries was to advise them not to take any precipitate decisions involving the Soviet Union. He hoped Pakistani-Soviet relations would exist ‘based on justice’. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by new agencies in Bahrain,] The Ruler of Sharjah, Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed Ali Qassimi, and nine of his relatives were killed today [Jan 25] in a palace gun battle in an attempted coup, a political source said. Shortly afterwards, they said the Sheikh’s cousin Sheikh Saqir bin Sultan Al Qassimi, surrendered to the troops, led by the Sheikh’s brother, surrounding the building in the tiny Persian Gulf state. News of the Emir’s death came after reports that he and members of his family were being held captives in their own palace following a coup by the previous Governor of Sharjah... .

Published in Dawn, January 26th, 2022