MOSCOW: The resignation of West German Chancellor Willy Brandt is a body blow to the Soviet Union’s European policies and another setback in its troubled relations with the West, observers said. Soviet authorities sat on the news for several hours but … this morning [May 7] issued a five-line item giving the bald fact. The chancellorship of Herr Brandt brought a high-tick mark in postwar cooperation between the Kremlin and its former major adversary in the West. His likely successors could adopt a programme which the Kremlin might find less congenial, observers said.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Riyadh,] the Pakistan State Minister for Defence and Foreign Affairs, Mr Aziz Ahmad ... held an audience with King Faisal at the King’s palace. The … Minister conveyed to the King the greetings of President Fazal Elahi Chaudhri and Prime Minister Z.A. Bhutto. He received in return assurances of Saudi support for Pakistan’s efforts aimed at the strengthening of Islamic ties. The … Minister ... also called on Crown Prince Khalid … and stayed with him for half [an] hour.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2024