ISLAMABAD: The Government of Pakistan is prepared to make an effort jointly with the Government of Bangladesh to resolve the ticklish issues relating to apportionment of assets and liabilities between the two countries and the question of non-Bengalis in Bangladesh. Official sources in Islamabad believe that, given … understanding on both sides, these problems could be resolved… . … Unfortunately, a section of the Press in Bangladesh and India as well as in some other countries has tried to give the impression that the recent talks between the Prime Ministers of Pakistan and Bangladesh … had ended in a deadlock. … These newspapers have failed to take note of the fact that Mr Bhutto’s visit … was a goodwill visit and was not undertaken with the hope that it would result in settlement of all problems. — Islamabad Bureau

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from Beirut,] Haji Syed Mohammed Amin al-Husseini, Grand Mufti of Palestine, died in hospital today [July 4] at the age of 76. … [The Mufti] left Jerusalem in 1937 after disagreement with the British mandate authorities over its policy of establishing a national Jewish home in Palestine.

Published in Dawn, July 5th, 2024