PARIS: The United States, Britain, France and Turkey will issue a joint statement late this week declaring their intention of going ahead with plans for Middle Eastern defence with or without Egypt, it was learned officially today [Nov 7]. Although not members of the proposed defence command three Commonwealth countries — Australia, New Zealand and South Africa — will also sign the declaration. The declaration … will be circulated among UN members in Paris.

Sources said the three … countries have endorsed the declaration because they are vitally interested in protection of communications life line between Western world and Australia, New Zealand and South Africa respectively. …

Sources said Canada, Pakistan and Bharat will not endorse the declaration for variety of reasons — Canada because she is outside the projected defence; Bharat because she is not in favour of the plan; Pakistan has expressed interest in protection of the lines of communications between the West and herself but does not consider the proposed scheme sufficient so long as the Arab world has not been fully associated with it. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, November 8th, 2026