U.N. COMMISSION ON KASHMIR

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25660, 24 November 1948, Page 5

U.N. COMMISSION ON KASHMIR

Interim Report To Security Council “REGULAR ARMIES INVOLVED”

(N.Z.P.A.— Reuter—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) PARIS, November 22. The Kashmir Commission’s interim report to the United Nations Security Council contains np conclusions or recommendations, but the commission is understood to be working on these now. According to Reuter’s correspondent, it will make plans for a plebiscite in the Jammu and Kashmir area.

The commission reported that without enforcement measures at its disposal, it had temporarily exhausted the possibilities of further negotiations.

Describing its difficulties, the commission said that it found regular Pakistan troops operating inside Jammu and Kashmir. The Security Council had never contemplated that the commission should deal with a situation involving military action between the two regular armies. Another difficulty was that the Azad movement was assisted by the Pakistan High Command, and was in active revolt against the existing Government. The Azad movement co-oper-ated with the invading tribesmen and individual Pakistan nationals. The movement controlled a considerable part of Jammu and Kashmir, particularly the greater parts of Poonch, Muzaffarabad, and Mirpur. The report said that the position on both sides was approximately this: (1) India regarded the presence of Pakistan troops as an act of aggression. and insisted on their withdrawal before any negotiations could be started for a settlement. (2) Pakistan held that the Indian troops should withdraw simultaneously, and that further negotiations on the cease fire phould include negotions with the “Azad Kashmir Government.”

Both sides agreed that it would be impracticable to arrange a plebiscite in 1948. The Kashmir Government and the Azad representative agreed with this view.