COLOMBO: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhut­­to tonight [Dec 18] described his talks with Sri Lanka Premier Mrs Sirimavo Banda­r­anaike as very useful and constructive. Speaking at a return banquet he held in honour of the Sri Lankan leader … the Prime Minister said we will leave Sri Lanka more than satisfied with the outcome of the visit. [PM] Bhutto warmly thanked the Government and people of Sri Lanka for the cordial hospitality they had extended to him and his delegates. … Mr. Bhutto said he had not tried to raise any controversial issues so that no unnecessary controversy was raised.

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Teheran,] the Iranian Foreign Ministry ... stressed the need for collective diplomatic measures on the part of Islamic States to resolve the Lebanon crisis. The Ministry’s spokesman … Mr J. Nadim referred to the Shahanshah of Iran’s remarks on the Lebanese situation during Eidul-Azha celebrations and went on to say that His Majesty had for the first time called for such measures. … [He] explained that invitation of holding … a conference should come from … Saudi Arabia in its capacity as host to the Islamic Conference.

Published in Dawn, December 19th, 2025