KARACHI: “We are of the opinion that the Pakistan Government and their officials are in no way responsible for the incident,” says the report submitted by the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Inquiry Commission, appointed to investigate the Moghalgai bombing incident, according to a Pakistan Foreign Office communique issued on Saturday [July 30]. The action of the pilot in flying over Afghan territory and firing on people collected at Moghalgai was not intentional “but due to a bona fide mistake” the Commission held. The Commission … had made thorough inquiries and heard witnesses on either side of the border.

[Meanwhile, according to news agencies in London,] Mr Ghulam Mohammad, Pakistan’s Finance Minister, said here today [July 30] that the Islamic Economic Conference to be held in Karachi from November 25 next would lead to better economic understanding and collaboration among the Muslim countries of the Middle East. The Pakistan Finance Minister [said] that seven Muslim countries had already agreed to send delegations to the Conference… . They are Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey and Syria.

Published in Dawn, July 31st, 2024