dimension’ to be added that the RCD chapter, because ‘economic collaboration without political and security arrangements is fantasy’. Bhutto attended the RCD summit at Izmir on April 21-22, 1967 and asked for the ‘Systematic consolidation of joint efforts would be to defend our civilization against all challenges on economic, political, ideological or military grounds’. Bhutto’s vision of revived and relevant RCD did not materialize (Mahdi, 1999).
During 1966-67 at that time East Pakistan was still a part of Pakistan, Jute manufacture formed about 85% of Pakistan export to Turkey. It was said the remaining 15% covered such items as henna powder, new hides, pressure lamps and glycerin (Hasan, 2002).
On October 31, 1967 President Ayub Khan of Pakistan visited Turkey, the joint communiqu?? issued, after the visit stated: ‘The two sides noted with satisfaction the growing relations between Pakistan and Turkey in all directions. Both countries were also agreed on a conclusion that measures should be taken to enlarge these relations especially in the economics and cultural fields. With the passage of time both countries further agreed that with a view to promoting trade relations between the two countries, and for this it was noted by the observers that commerce delegations should exchange visits’ (Hasan, 2002).
On April 15, 1968, in the 8th meeting of the Council of Ministers, held in Tehran all of these three countries agreed to sense of satisfaction among the council members that the RCD rail link between Iran and Turkey was progressing according to the schedule and the train service between the Quetta and Zahidan had been resumed with effect from November 16, 1967 (Hassan, 2002).
At the same time Governments’ efforts to promote intra-regional trade improved unequal to the task of overcoming the tough obstacle that discouraged trade expansion. For instance in 1969 the percentage of goods exchanged among Iran, Pakistan and Turkey stood at the level of 1, 1 .9 and 0.5 percent respectively of their total trade. Thus about 99 percent of the region’s foreign trade was still conducted with the rest of the world. It was partly to expand their potential and diversify the exchanges th
