CHITRAL: A warning to Afghanistan that a show of force or interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs would be harmful for her, was given by Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto here today [Nov 13]. Addressing a big public meeting at Darosh … he said Pakistan did not want to make a show of force as it desired a peaceful solution of problems through negotiations, but “we cannot be frightened either if Afghanistan makes a show of force”. Mr Bhutto said if such a situation developed between Pakistan and Afghanistan politics of some other countries would succeed. … The Prime Minister said Pakistan wants good relations with Afghanistan. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Tel Aviv,] hopes for stabilising the Middle East cease-fire were jolted by fears of a new war … after Israel refused to allow the United Nations to set up checkposts on the Cairo-Suez Road and Prime Minister Golda Meir’s assertion … that there was no such thing as the Oct 22 cease-fire line. … Egyptian officials said … that Israel was obstructing implementation of the cease-fire stabilisation agreement. … “Israel is not implementing the agreement and is putting impediments … in its way.”

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2023