ISLAMABAD: Pakistan-India air talks concluded after five days of deliberations here today [Nov 22] with the two sides deciding to continue them at another meeting to be held in New Delhi… . Later the Indian delegation left for Delhi. Though no agreement has been reached on any of the issues that were discussed, a six-paragraph joint communique, issued this evening, said: “The two sides agreed that the discussions had helped them achieve a better appreciation of each other’s viewpoints. …” None of the sources close to the two sides was prepared to agree with the interpretation that the talks had ended in a deadlock. On the contrary, it was suggested, in some informed quarters, that very good progress had been made.

[Meanwhile, as reported from Jerusalem], police and soldiers fired warning shots in the air to disperse demonstrators after Friday prayers in the Al-Aqsa mosque. … Bystanders said about 100 worshippers left the mosque carrying Palestinian flags and placards. Police and soldiers opened fire into the air to break up the crowd. The demonstrators then ran towards the Damascus gate in the ancient city walls.

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024