ISLAMABAD: A joint communique issued at the end of over two hours’ talks between US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto here this evening [Oct 31] said the Prime Minister called the US Secretary’s attention to Pakistan’s proposal for a nuclear-free zone in South Asia, and the two took note of the adverse implications for stability of nuclear proliferation and agreed that renewed efforts should be made to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. …

In their review of the efforts … Pakistan has made to restore peace … in the South Asian Region, Dr. Kissinger expressed US admiration of the Prime Minister’s efforts to normalise Pakistan’s relations with India and Bangladesh. … They also reviewed the efforts … to bring about … a just and lasting solution to the problems of the Middle East. …

Earlier, an official handout, issued after the Bhutto-Kissinger parleys, said that Pakis­­tan was “satisfied” with the talks. Meanwhile, briefing newsmen, the spokesman of Dr. Kissinger’s party … said the meeting was very friendly. … Nancy Kis­singer, wife of [Dr. Kissinger] … paid a flying visit to Murree … where she spent one-and-a-half hour. — Islamabad Bureau

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2024