PAKISTANIS DRIVE INTO KASHMIR

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 15

PAKISTANIS DRIVE INTO KASHMIR

Aircraft And Tanks Used; U Thant Appeals (N.Z P A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW DELHI, September 2. Pakistani forces were now five to six miles inside Indian territory in the Chhamb sector of Kashmir, the Indian Prime Minister (Mr Lal Bahadur Shastri) said in New Delhi today. He was answering questions from journalists after a meeting with Opposition leaders in Parliament.

Shortly before midnight Indian forces were reported to have opened automatic weapon fire on another front about 1000 miles South-east in the Lathitilla area of East Pakistan. No details were available.

About 3000 Pakistani regular soldiers were thrown into the fighting yesterday in support of Azad Kashmir force for the first time in the 18-year-old conflict. A Government spokesman in Rawalpindi said that with the support of tanks they crossed the line in the Bhimbar sector and occupied the Indian posts of Deva and Chhamb in a push which took them some six to eight miles inside Indian Kashmir. The spokesman said there were between 45 and 70 tanks in the attack. Earlier yesterday Pakistan claimed her aircraft had shot down four Indian planes called in to support retreating ground forces in the drive to Deva and Chhamb. A military spokesman in Rawalpindi said the use of aircraft by both sides highlighted the gravity of the situation. The Associated Press said the sub-continent was moving towards an all-out war. Day-Long Talks After day-long talks in New York, the United Nations Secretary-General (U Thant) appealed last night for an immediate cease-fire in identical cables sent to President Ayub Khan of Pakistan and Mr Shastri. U Thant said an “outright military confrontation be tween the armed forces of India and Pakistan is threatened and may be imminent’’ This could have “only the gravest implication for the peace of the world.” The Secretary-General promised the Indian and Pakistani leaders the “fullest possible assistance in the restoration of peace in Kashmir and the solution of its problems."

The cease-fire agreement freely entered into in Karachi in July, 1949, now was being “so widely disregarded as to be reduced to little consequence,” he said. His appeal was immediately backed by the United States. The United States representative (Mr Arthur Goldberg) said his country “attached the greatest importance to the restoration of P'.ace in the area and the avoidance of any action likely to threaten further the main-

tenance of international peace and security.” In Rawalpindi last night a Government spokesman said Pakistani joint forces had taken a large number of Indian prisoners and had captured arms and other equipment in the drive to Deva and Chhamb. Fighting continued in other sectors and Azad Kashmir forces had prevented an attempted Indian break-through in the Poonch region. President Ayub Khan claim-

ed India was threatening to force war on Pakistan who would not allow India’s “blatant acts of aggression” to go unchallenged. His broadcast was heard by millions in the streets over a relay system outside cafes, public halls, and other meeting places. In New Delhi, Mr Shastri called an emergency meeting of his Cabinet and one hour and 50 minutes later emerged

to tell reporters: “It is a regular attack and we certainly "’ill meet it. The country has to be prepared to meet the challenge. It is time for all of U 3 to be alert and quite vigilant.” A Defence Ministry spokesman said the United States had been informed “of India’s charge that United Statesmade tanks were being used in the attack.”