LAHORE: President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said here today [June 27] that Pakistan was prepared to resume diplomatic relations with India because it was better to talk directly than through intermediaries. He was addressing the nation ... on the eve of his departure for Simla to attend the summit... . The President said: “After all, we did not break diplomatic relations in the 1965 war and our ambassadors continued at their posts till the conclusion of the last war.”

He said ... it would be of mutual benefit if both countries reopened communications. Letters and telegrams could be exchanged and overflights could start again. Also, he added, it would ... be of benefit ... if a measure of trade were resumed in good time... . Mr Bhutto said but this was anticipating. “We have made many gestures to India, we have offered a hand of peace and, in token, the unconditional release of the Indian prisoners of war... .”

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies in Lahore,] The Punjab Government on the advice of the President has ordered the editors, printers and publishers of “Urdu Digest”, “Zindagi” and “Punjab Punch” to be released from detention... . Dr Ijaz Hasan Qureshi, Mr. Altaf Hasan Qureshi, Mr Mujib Shami, Mr Husain Naqi and Mr Muzaffar Qadir have been released… .

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022