DERA GHAZI KHAN: Relationships between Pakistan and India will have to be on equal terms and not on the basis of big and small, because then it won’t be lasting, Prime Minister Bhutto said here today [Dec 2]. He was addressing a mammoth public meeting. … Mr Bhutto said Pakistan had sought to normalise ties with India for the sake of peace in the Sub-continent, and for devoting full attention to the well-being of the people in the two countries.

The normalisation should … be for the benefit of both countries and not merely to … establish one country’s hegemony over the other. … Amidst deafening slogans he declared that Pakistan, even during the most critical times, had refused to compromise on principles and under no circumstances will be ready for that in any future negotiations. …

The Prime Minister said that people of Pakistan had remained exploited … for quarter of a century. Now … it was time that the Government … should sincerely try to improve their lot. He said “we want peace to devote our energies to bring happiness to our people”. Mr Bhutto referred to the Simla Agreement and said that Pakistan had refused to surrender or even compromise its stand on Kashmir.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2024