KARACHI: Circles close to Pakistan Govern­ment expressed satisfaction on the dignified attitude take by the Press of Pakistan over the anti-Pakistan broadcasts on Kabul Radio and in the Afghan Government-controlled Press… . This friendly attitude of Pakistan was probably responsible for the change in tone of the Afghan Government broadcasts and newspapers noted recently. …

… Characterising the reports of Pakistani troops movements on the North-West Frontier border as “baseless” [these circles] affirmed that there could be no question of aggression against the fraternal nation of Afghanistan. Pakistan has nothing but goodwill to offer Afghanistan. They, however, pointed out that Pakistan would defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity against aggression from whatever it might come.

[Meanwhile, according to news agencies in Lahore,] The Board of Control for Cricket in Pakistan … are strongly protesting to the Board of Control for Cricket in India against the latter’s announcement in the itinerary of the Commonwealth Cricket team’s tour of that country of dates and venues of matches against Pakistan. It was stated that … any matches to be played against Pakistan teams will be decided by the Board of Control of Cricket in Pakistan in consultation with the sponsors of the tour.

Published in Dawn, April 19th, 2024