ISLAMABAD: The Chinese Government has assured Pakistan that it will continue to give her resolute support in her just struggle to defend her national independence and State sovereignty against foreign aggression and interference, including that against nuclear threat and nuclear blackmail, Foreign Office spokesman told newsmen here today [June 26]. … [He] said that the assurance was given by the Chinese leaders during talks with the Pakistan delegation which, led by Foreign Secretary Agha Shahi, visited Peking earlier this month. [He] said: “China has expressed her firm opposition to an attempt by any country to pursue expansionism by means of nuclear threat or blackmail”. — Correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Kuala Lumpur,] the fifth Conference of Islamic Foreign Ministers … set the seal on the decisions of Lahore Summit, recommending institutional measures for economic cooperation and solidarity among Muslim countries. … “A new Islamic era has dawned upon the world”, is how the Conference Chairman, Datu Hussein summed up the … Conference in his closing address. He added that emanating from the spirit of this Conference “is a new Islamic force. …”

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2024