MOSCOW: Speaking at a dinner given in his honour by Prime Minister Bhutto here to­­night [Oct 25], Mr. [Alexei] Kosygin referred to Mr. Bhutto’s meeting with Mr. [Leonid] Brezhnev today and said these negotiations were the highest stage of all negotiations we have ever had. Mr. Kosygin paid tributes to Mr. Bhutto’s role in solving his country’s problems as well as his contribution and efforts towards world peace. Mr. Kosygin at the banquet proposed a toast for the friendship between the peoples of Pakistan and Soviet Union. … The Soviet Premier during his banquet speech tonight said the Soviet Union had all along been endeavouring to bring durable peace in the South Asia region and would continue to work for easing tensions in the area.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Peshawar,] President Daud of Afghanistan has ordered that no mosque should be constructed henceforth in the country, especially in the south-west regions, according to reports reaching here. … Reports have already appeared that Sardar Daud is persecuting ulema and other Islam-loving people, several of whom have been arrested. The reports say Sardar Daud’s ban … has brought his regime into direct clash with Islam-loving people.

Published in Dawn, October 26th, 2024