NEHRU, AYUB TO MEET

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29994, 1 December 1962, Page 11

NEHRU, AYUB TO MEET

Uproar In Pakistan National Assembly

(N.Z.P. A. -Reuter—Copyright)

RAWALPINDI (Pakistan), November 30.

Uproar broke out in the Pakistan National Assembly today over Kashmir and other outstanding disputes between Pakistan and India, the Associated Press reported.

The Opposition wanted to discuss last night’s surprise joint communique, issued from New Delhi and Rawalpindi, proposing an early meeting of President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and the Indian Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) to discuss matters in dispute.

The Assembly, however, adjourned pending a Government statement to be issued as a communique.

Reuter said the Assembly was promised a statement by the Minister of Industry and Resources (Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto), deputising for the Minister of External Affairs (Mr Mohammed Ali), who is ill.

The Indian-Pakistan agreement to hold talks was announced after a flurry of consultations in the two countries by the British Commonwealth Secretary •Mr Sandys) and the United States Assistant Secretary of State (Mr Averell Harriman). Both men are expected to have further talks with Pakistani leaders today.

The agreement was made against the background of the Chinese-Indian border dispute, which is reported to have caused India to move large numbers of troops from Kashmir.

One member of the Assembly protested that the Indian-Pakistani statement contained no reference to United Nations proposals for settlement of the Kashmir dispute. Members complained of the "mockery" of the House being called to an emergency session to debate IndianPakistani relations, while other arrangements were being made without even party leaders being taken into confidence. The English - language newspaper, "Pakistan

Times," reporting the agreement on talks, said many observers "doubt if the National Assembly will be satisfied with the type of agreement reached.” It noted that Britain and the United States had been under heavy fire in the Assembly for their arms aid to India, and said it was “assumed that Pakistan is not prepared to have any academic discussions on Kashmir with anybody. That stage has passed, and Pakistan now wants concrete proposals.” Mr Sandys paid a brief courtesy call on President Ayub before going to the National Assembly to hear the Government statement on the Indian-Pakistani agreement. He is due to leave Rawalpindi this morning on his way back to London. President Ayub Khan and Mr Nehru said in their communique that they would meet at "an appropriate stage” of the Ministerial talks. The dispute over Kashmir began with the 1947 partition of the Indian sub-continent, when the Hindu Maharaja of the predominantly Moslem State acceded to India. The United Nations intervened when fighting broke out, and a cease-fire line was agreed in July, 1949. The communique said the aim was to “enable India and Pakistan to live side by

side in peace and friendship.” President Ayub and Mr Nehru had thus "decided to start discussions at an early date with the object of reaching an equitable and honourable settlement.” .

The communique said that initially the talks would be at Ministerial level, but that at an “appropriate stage” there would be direct talks between President Ayub and Mr Nehru. Observers said there was still a long road to cover before full conditions could be achieved for a rapprochement of anything like joint Indian-Pakistani defence of the sub-continent, as urged in Western quarters. But they said the talks would lead to a relaxation of the strong Pakistani opposition to Western arms aid for India in her border war with China. Pakistan fears the weapons will be turned against her once the border fighting ends. Members of all Indian political parties hailed the development with a sense of relief.

Mr Nehru and President Ayub discussed the dispute when they last met in Pakistan in 1960.

Mr Nehru is reported to have said that China’s ceasefire terms are not acceptable. Officials said Mr Nehru had said there were "snags” in the proposals.