LAHORE: The pre-Islamic Summit Foreign Ministers conference, which began its two-day deliberations here this evening [Feb 19], unanimously admitted six more countries as members of the Islamic Secretariat, raising the strength to 36. The new members admitted … are: Guinea Bissau, Gabon, Gambia, Cameroun, Uganda and Upper Volta.

The meeting, which was presided over by Pa­­­kistan Minister of State for Defence and Fo­­reign Affairs, Mr Aziz Ahmad, also accep­ted Iraq’s request to be allowed to attend the Sum­mit as an observer. The Foreign Ministers’ mee­­ting … will be resumed tomorrow morning. …

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Agha Shahi, replying to newsmen’s questions … said the question of Bangladesh’s participation in the Conference had also engaged the Foreign Ministers’ attention. But, he added, they had not been able to get enough time to consult each other on this question. … Mr Shahi … said: “I believe Bangladesh has expressed its interest in the Islamic Summit. But we have not received any formal application” for membership. … Mr Shahi declined to answer a number of questions on the plea that the reasons of security and confidential nature of the topic did not permit it. — Summit bureau

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2024