QUETTA: President Bhutto said here today [May 21] that the people of Pakistan were not so ungrateful as to forget the unstinted support and material assistance always extended to Pakistan by the Government and people of Iran. Peoples of the two countries, he added, were closely knit together through “unbreakable brotherly ties”. He was addressing a mammoth public meeting which … was attended by the sister of the Shahanshah of Iran, Princess Ashraf Pahlavi, and her daughter-in-law, Princess Nilofar Pahlavinia… . The meeting … was also attended by the Provincial Governors of Baluchistan, Sind and Punjab, the Chief Ministers of Sind and Baluchistan, Central Ministers … members of the Provincial Cabinet … the Iranian Ambassador … and … Iranian dignitaries.

Mr. Bhutto said that Iran and Turkey were very close friends of Pakistan and … that through an international conspiracy sponsored by certain elements attempts were being made to create misunderstandings between Pakistan and these friendly countries. With this purpose in view, he said, he had invited Princess Ashraf Pahlavi to visit Pakistan so that she could see for herself that the people of Pakistan had nothing but love … for the people of Iran.

Published in Dawn, May 22nd, 2022