KARACHI: Mr Hassan al Tohamy, Secretary-General of the Islamic Secretariat, said … yesterday [Sept 8, that] the situation vis-à-vis Afghanistan and Pakistan was more critical today than it had been three months ago at the time of his last visit. Talking to newsmen at the Karachi airport on arrival … from Kabul, he stressed the need for immediate steps to solve all differences between the two countries on a just and permanent basis. …

Asked to comment on his meeting with Sardar Daud, he said he had been successful in discussing the relevant issues with him, but arriving at a solution was a different matter. … He said he had come here “as a brother” to help in reaching a solution. …

He said it had to be demonstrated to the entire world that the Muslim States would not permit any differences between them to deteriorate and assume the proportions of an open quarrel. … He warned that history would not accept any excuses if the differences (between Pakistan and Afghanistan) were not resolved. In conclusion, he said any agreement between the two States would be fully backed by all Muslim countries. He declined to answer further questions or elaborate on what he had already said.

Published in Dawn, September 9th, 2024