LAHORE: “The utter unreasonableness of the … often contradictory claims advanced … by Afghanistan mostly through channels other than official is becoming as clear to the whole world as is the justice and fairness of Pakistan’s stand vis-a-vis these claims,” said Chaudhri Mohammad Zafrullah in an interview … this afternoon [July 10] … …[H]e said that first the question of changing the name of the area comprising the tribal belt and the NWFP into “Pathanistan” was raised. It was made clear … that this was something which the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan alone could take up should the inhabitants of the area move for such a change.

This was followed by allegations against Pakistan — put out in various foreign capitals through … the Afghan propaganda machine — of … withholding of assistance in the economic sphere.

…[T]he Foreign Minister pointed out that … Pakistan … had … made every possible effort to assist and co-operate. Goods for Afghanistan unloaded at Karachi are not only exempt from payment of customs duties but every possible port and rail facility is being extended to ensure their speedy … transportation…

Published in Dawn, July 12th, 2024