Johnson-Ayub Talks To Open

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30934, 15 December 1965, Page 21

Johnson-Ayub Talks To Open

fN.Z.P.A.-Keut«r—Copyright/ WASHINGTON, December 14.

President Johnson and President Ayub Khan, of Pakistan, open two-day talks today in an attempt to strengthen relations between their countries and to improve peace prospects on the Indian sub-continent.

President Ayub, who called on India in the United Nations General Assembly yesterday to sign a joint no-war pledge with Pakistan, flies to Washington today. The Kashmir conflict and an anticipated United States decision to resume economic aid to Pakistan were expected

to be high on the agenda for the talks. Reports from sources in Karachi say that President Ayub planned to tell Mr Johnson

frankly that the former close relationship between the United States and Pakistan is over. President Ayub has laid that Pakistan in future will accept no aid that endangers pursuit of an independent Pakistani foreign policy and strong ties with China and Russia. There is feeling in Pakistan that Pakistan was attacked by India with American arms and that President Johnson stood aside, although duty-bound to go to Pakistan’s aid. The United States halted

military and new economic aid to both Pakistan and India when the Kashmir fighting broke out last summer. According to United States officials, one major result of President Ayub’s visit is ex-

pected to .be an announcement that the White House is ready to resume economic aid through the international consortium organised by the World Bank. More talks are scheduled for tomorrow—with a final communique in the evening—before President Ayub leaves for Paris on Thursday morning.