ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has been formally invi­ted to participate in the preparatory meeting of the Foreign Ministers of Muslim countries being held in Rabat, Capital of Morocco, tomorrow [Sept 8], to make arrangement for the Muslim summit conference, officials said today. Mr Tay­yabji, Pakistan’s Ambassador in Morocco, will represent Pakistan at the meeting tomorrow.

Other countries to attend the meeting are: Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iran, Malaysia, Niger and Somalia. The seven countries will prepare the agenda for the Heads of State summit meeting which will discuss the future of occupied Jerusalem and holy shrines following the recent fire which partly damaged the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

President A.M. Yahya Khan in two strongly worded statements had said that Pakistan would concert action with other Muslim countries to meet the situation arising from the desecration of Al-Aqsa Mosque. — Agency

[Meanwhile, as reported by an agency in Rawalpindi,] The Soviet Prime Minister Alexi Kosygin overflying Pakistan on way to North Viet-Nam yesterday [Sept 6] extended greetings and best wishes to President A.M. Yahya Khan.

The Soviet leader’s message transmitted from his plane said: “While overflying territory of Pakistan on my way to Hanoi, I extend to you, esteemed Mr President, greetings and best wishes for success to you...”

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2019