WASHINGTON: President Nixon today [Sept 20] pledged … the United States will continue to provide Pakistanis with substantial eco­nomic aid. A joint US-Pakistani communi­que marking the end of Prime Minister Zulfi­kar Ali Bhutto’s visit here said the President and the Prime Minister … reaffirmed the close … ties … between the two countries. …

Plans now call for 77 million dollars in American aid next year, officials said. Mr Nixon also pledged further help to Pakistan in its recovery from the recent devastating floods. … [T]he communique said that in the talks … Mr Nixon “noted the successes of the Prime Minister of Pakistan in establishing representative Government under a democratic constitution ... and in restoring the war-shattered economy of Pakistan which has unfortunately received a serious setback in the recent unprecedented floods. …”

The communique said: “President Nixon reiterated the United States warm support for the process of reconciliation under way in South Asia... .

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2023