ANKARA: United States Secretary of State Dr Henry Kissinger said here today [May 22] that the territorial integrity of Pakistan rem­ains a principal interest of the United States. Dr Kissinger was speaking at the opening of the Ministerial conference of the Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO). He said the United States at the same time strongly supports the promising process of accommodation of the Sub-continent begun at Simla.

Pakistan’s economic progress since its trials of three and a half years ago has been ex­­traordinary, Mr Kissinger said. He added that President Gerald Ford has asked me to underscore the continued commitments of my country to the fundamental aims of CENTO. Mr Kissinger said America was determined to stand by its foreign allies because it was in America’s own interest to do so.

… Mr Kissinger said America’s new relationship with China the other Superpower, has served the cause of peace, not only in Asia but globally. … He told the CENTO alliance that the US was convinced that new moves were needed to break the deadlock in the Arab-Israeli dispute. … The US intended to remain active in seeking a Middle Eastern peace that was just and durable.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2025