ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will begin official visit of the United States from Feb 4 at the invitation of the [US] President, Mr Gerald Ford. The [PM] will leave here by a special PIA flight for Rome on the morning of Feb 3, on his way to Washington. … [PM] Bhutto will spend three days in Washington, where he will hold talks with President Gerald Ford, Secretary of State Dr. Henry Kissinger and other important leaders. US Vice-President Nelson A. Rockefeller will call on [Mr Bhutto] at Blair House. … The [PM] will also have a separate meeting with representatives of the Pakistani community in the [US]. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Damascus,] Eritrean liberation forces have launched a full-scale attack on main cities, including Asmara, capital of Eritrea, the Eritrean Liberation Front office announced here today [Feb 1]. It said the attack was directed at military targets and against the Ethiopian Army command, “with the aim of foiling the huge preparations carried out by the occupation authorities.” Waves of Eritrean guerrillas attacked Ethiopian military installations in Asmara … in a major escalation of their 12-year war for independence.

Published in Dawn, February 2nd, 2025