‘Tashkent Pact Violated’

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31018, 25 March 1966, Page 13

‘Tashkent Pact Violated’

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter —Copyright) NEW DELHI, March 24. India has protested to Pakistan over “deliberate and sustained violation of the letter and spirit of the Tashkent declaration,” the External Affairs Minister, Mr Swaran Singh, told the Lower House in New Delhi.

He said India was keeping the Soviet Union and other countries informed of “antiIndian propaganda” by Pakistani leaders and information media in recent weeks.

“It will be very difficult for India to continue unilaterally to adopt its attitude of restraint in accordance with the Tashkent declaration if Pakistan continues its deliberaite and sustained violation of the letter and spirit of the declaration,” the Minister said.

Earlier this month Indian members of Parliament alleged that Pakistani forces had employed scorched-earth tactics in withdrawing from the areas of Rajasthan State they had occupied during last year’s Indian-Pakistan war.

VISIT TO U.S. The “New York Times” reported that observers in New Delhi noted that the statement came on the eve of the visit to the United States by the Prime Minister, Mrs Indira Gandhi, during which she is expected to urge President Johnson to drop his insistence on Indian-Pakistani amity as a pre-condition for full resumption of American aid.

Pakistan, technically a United States military ally, disclosed for the first time yesterday that she was equip-

ping her armed forces with tanks and jets made in China, the Associated Press reported. The Pakistani Anny included five Chinese-made T 59 medium tanks in military equipment rolled out for a “Pakistan Day” parade in Rawalpindi, the nation’s interim capital, 1000 miles north of Karachi. It was the first time Pakistan had exhibited any Communist armaments.