QUETTA: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto has suggested initiation of bilateral talks between Pakistan and Afghanistan to reach an agreement on the pattern of the Simla Accord, under which the two countries should desist from interfering in each other’s internal affairs. Making this offer at a public meeting in Pishin, he said that Pakistan was prepared to enter into such talks so that instead of interfering in each other’s internal affairs Pakistan and Afghanistan could concentrate their energies towards the welfare of their people.

Prime Minister Bhutto, who was given a big ovation by the people when he arrived in Pishin, told an unscheduled public meeting that although Pakistan desired to have brotherly relations with Afghanistan, it was at the same time prepared to meet any threat from across the border. … Earlier, addressing a big public meeting in the border town of Chaman, Premier Bhutto said that Pakistan was prepared to straighten her relations with Afghanistan provided Afghan rulers gave up the claim they were laying on certain Pakistan territories. The people and the Government of Pakistan … were prepared to protect every inch of the country’s soil.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2024