Ayub In U.S. To Talk On Aid

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30933, 14 December 1965, Page 21

Ayub In U.S. To Talk On Aid

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) WASHINGTON. Dec. 13. President Johnson will agree to resume economic aid to Pakistan while barring further arms aid when he confers with President Ayub Khan in Washington this week, informed officials said today.

The Pakistani leader flew into New York yesterday to address the United Nations General Assembly today. He will meet President Johnson at the White House tomorrow and Wednesday. The United States cut off economic and military aid to Pakistan and India when the two Asian countries fought over Kashmir last September.

Officials said ■ President Johnson had agreed that a postponed meeting of an international consortium, to which the United States was the biggest contributor, should now go ahead to consider Pakistan’s request for 5000 million United States dollars (1NZ1786 million) in aid for its five-year economic plan. Since 1954, the United States ha s supplied Pakistan with 1000 million dollars (£NZ3S7 million) in arms aid as part of anti-Communist defence arrangements in Asia. But President Johnson was known to be gravely disturbed by the way Pakistan and India diverted scarce resources—which could be used to fight widespread poverty and hunger—to their military confrontation.

Another concern uppermost in his mind, officials said was President Ayub’s drift towards Peking as a result of his anger over United States arms aid to India.