KASHMIR DISPUTE Kosygin Attempts A Conciliation

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31669, 3 May 1968, Page 11

KASHMIR DISPUTE Kosygin Attempts A Conciliation

(N.Z. Preu Association —Copyright) LONDON, May 2. A new bid by the Soviet Prime Minister, Mr Alexei Kosygin, to reconcile India’s and Pakistan’s differences over Kashmir was disclosed today by Asian diplomats, the Associated Press reported.

. Informants said Mr Kosygin urged both countries to “mend their fences” in the spirit of the 1966 Tashkent Agreement sponsored by the Soviet Union. Thd Tashkent Agreement provided for regular IndianPakistani exchanges designed to produce a gradual advance towards settling the 20-year-old Kashmir quarrel and other dangerous differences. Mr Kosygin’s highly confi dentlal initiative was seen by Asian authorities as an attempt to stabilise a highly sensitive region on Russia's frontiers. They suggested a parallel Soviet aim was to limit China’s scope for mischief-making and divisive diplomacy. Mr Kosygin made an unscheduled stop of a few hours lh New Delhi on April 21 after a three-day official visit to Pakistan. Most of his time with Mrs Indira Gandhi, India’s Prime Minister was devoted to the problem of improving relations with Pakistan.

In Pakistan, sources said, he dwelt at length in his talks with President Ayub Khan on the need for stabilising the Indian sub-continent. The Soviet leader was said to have discussed with Presi dent Ayub ways of lessening Pakistan’s reliance on the United States and China for military and other aid.

Sources said Mr Kosygin indicated Soviet readiness to make available to Pakistan undisclosed quantities of nonlethal military supplies. These would include transport, engineering and other logistie equipment but no heavy armament and no strike aircraft. President Ayub’s reactions were not disclosed.