TEHERAN: Iran and Pakistan … reaffirmed their basic agreement for a Middle East settlement based on the return by Israel of occupied Arab territories. After a day of talks here with the Shah of Iran, Mr Bhutto told newsmen that eventually Iran’s position and Pakistan’s position remained the same on this war. … “We believe that a viable solution could be found if the territories occupied by Israel are vacated,” he said. In reply to a question he said it would be preferable if the Big Powers refrained from intervention in the conflict. Observers in Teheran noted that the joint stand of Iran and Pakistan on the Middle East situation has reasserted Islamic unity. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Jerusalem,] Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir … told a packed house, in which several Knesset members wore uniforms, that “Israel’s objective was very simple: to throw back the enemy attack and break up her military apparatus. Destruction of the enemy military force is the condition for peace, and this was necessary to achieve victory,” she said. “We have not … received any cease-fire proposals. … The cease-fire will come about only when the Arab armies are defeated.”

Published in Dawn, October 18th, 2023