RAWALPINDI: The Special Assistant to the President, Mr. Rafi Raza, today [March 31] hoped that India will pay heed to the “clear and bold” resolution adopted by the fourth conference of Foreign Ministers of Islamic countries, calling for immediate release of Pakistani prisoners of war.

Mr. Raza, who led an eight-member Pakis­tani delegation to the conference, held at Benghazi (Libya) early this week, was giving his impressions in a television interview here. He said the resolution became possible becau­­se President Bhutto’s two journeys through the Middle Eastern countries in January and June last year had tremendous impact on their leaders. Mr. Raza said: “We put forward our case as best we could. We cal­­led for clear pronouncement … on the immediate released of the POWs and civilian internees held by India. …” — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Rawalpindi,] the Soviet leader, Mr L.I. Brezhnev, foresees good prospects for the development of good relations between Pakistan and his country. An article, “Pakistan on the road of progress”, released here by the Soviet Embassy, said that Mr. Brezhnev … made this observation on the 50th anniversary of the Soviet Union.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2023