KASHMIR & JAMMU

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

KASHMIR & JAMMU

Partition

Ruled Out

(N.Z.P.A.-Reuter—Copyright) NEW DELHI, Nov. 30. The Prime Minister (Mr Nehru) told the Indian Parliament today that anything that meant upsetting the present arrangements in Kashmir would be “very harmful.”

Mr Nehru, making a statement on the Indian-Pakistani agreement to discuss Kashmir and other issues, told a questioner that there was no basis for reports that a settlement of the dispute would be based on the partition of the States of Jammu and Kashmir. He said no date had yet been set for the talks.

He said he had explained India's position to the British Commonwealth Secretary (Mr Sandys) and the United States Assistant Secretary of State (Mr Averell Harriman) and told them it was not possible to bypass or ignore India’s basic principles. Mr Nehru referred to other reports that the talks would concern partition, and said they were “completely without foundation."

He told questioners it was not for Mr Sandys or anyone else to suggest what kind of talks India should have with Pakistan.

Mr Sandys and Mr Harriman had approached India’s position, but had still suggested a "friendly discussion about these matters.”