COLOMBO: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto has stressed that stability in the South Asian region could only be brought on the basis of peaceful co-existence, sovereign equality of states and settlement of disputes according to principles of justice and equality. Addressing the Sri Lankan National Assembly here this afternoon [Dec 16], Mr Bhutto said Pakistan sought negotiated settlement of her problems with her neighbours and added: “We have no wish to impose our viewpoint on any one of them nor will we acquiesce in such an attempt on their part. We reject hegemony and dominance”, he declared... .

[A separate report adds, Mr Bhutto] and Begum Nusrat Bhutto were accorded a warm welcome here amidst heavy rain when they arrived … at Ratmalana Airport to open their four-day official visit to Sri Lanka. Earlier, they were greeted by the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka, Mrs Srimavo Bandaranaike, at the Bandaranaike Airport… . The two Prime Ministers and Begum Bhutto were flown to Ratmalana in a special VIP aircraft. [PM Bhutto] reviewed a guard of honour presented to him by … the Sri Lankan Navy.

Published in Dawn, December 17th, 2025