As part of his tour of Arab and African countries, President Bhutto arrived at Tripoli for a state visit on January 27, 1972. Besides the usual communiqué of support, Libya supported Pakistan’s position on this issue of prisoners of war. Gaddafi told Bhutto, “Please tell us what to do. We do not merely want to issue a statement of support” to which Mr Bhutto replied, “I have come here to thank you for what you have already done and not ask for anything more.”
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Muammar al-Gaddafi were both charismatic, ambitious leaders who raised slogans of Islamic socialism. Both viewed themselves as leaders of the third world and looked to strengthen third world and Islamic relations to form a powerful global alliance. They would meet again at the much celebrated Islamic Summit Conference of February 1974 in Lahore, the biggest and most glorious of Bhutto’s attempts to carve a meaningful alliance.
