RIYADH: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto said in an interview published here today [Oct 11] that Pakistan will not abandon the agreement for the purchase of a nuclear reprocessing plant from France. Pakistan wants the plant for peaceful purposes, not for making atom bomb as done by some others, he said. Saudi Arabian newspaper “Al-Jazira” also quoted Mr Bhutto having said … that Pakistan was prepared for talks with India on the Kashmir issue “but we don’t ask India to start negotiations right today”. The [PM] said there would be no harm if the talks … were held after the next elections in the two countries.

[Meanwhile, as reported by our Islamabad Bureau,] A magnificent mass gymnastic display was presented by nearly 20,000 school children in honour of His Majesty King Khalid Ibn Abdul Aziz … at the National Sports Nursery Stadium today [Oct 11]. The colourful display drew repeated applause and admiration for its exquisite gymnastic skills … and lofty collective spirit. Besides, the display also expressed the political, ideological and socio-economic development of Pakistan and the eternal friendship between Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2026