ISLAMABAD: President Fazal Elahi Chaudhry and Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto have felicitated China on the 27th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China being celebrated on Oct 1. Prime Minister Bhutto in his message to Premier Hua Kuo-feng expressed his conviction that the friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries will continue to develop from strength to strength in the years to come. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies from the UN,] Afghanistan told the UN General Assembly yesterday [Sept 29] that a thaw had occurred in its relations with Pakistan and that a dialogue had begun between the leaders of the two countries. “We hope that as a result of these contacts and future talks between the two leaders, our political difference will find a just and honourable solution,” Afghanistan Deputy Foreign Minister Waheed Abdullah said in the course of the general debate. Mr Abdullah said he was “encouraged” to hear the assessment of the Pakistan delegation leader, Mr Aziz Ahmed, regarding Pakistan-Afghanistan relations and said the only way “all of us can resolve our differences is through peaceful negotiations”.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2026