Gandhi On Pakistan's Duty

Northern Advocate, 5 January 1948, Page 3

Gandhi On Pakistan's Duty

NEW DELHI, Sun. (11 a.m.).— Gandhi told a prayer meeting that he was amazed that Pakistan disputed India’s complaint to the United Nations that Pakistan had backed the raiders invading Kashmir.

Hindus and Moslems had made grievous blunders, but that did not mean the present troubles should continue until they culminated in war. War would bring both Dominions under the sway of a third power. When Kashmir sought help in expelling the raiders Pakistan had a duty to cooperate with India. Reuters Karachi correspondent says the. Prime Minister of Pakistan (Liaquat Ali Khan) defending Pakistan’s action in Kashmir, said India was out to destroy Pakistan. “The Indian Government,” he' said, “merely paid lip service to partition to get the British troops out of the country.” He added that India systematically sabotaged partition by stopping such essential requirements as coal and rail transport.

ALLOWED TRANSIT It is true that the invaders of Kashmir are allowed transit across Pakistan territory says the Daily Telegraph’s Lahore correspondent claiming that he made frequent observations on the spot. The correspondent says the Pakistan Premier (Liaquat Ali Khan) was less than frank when he denied that 100,000 Pathans were concentrated in Pakistan and when he claimed that migrants were shepherds following their usual winter route to India. “SUPERBLY ARMED MEN”

The correspondent reports seeing lorry loads of “superbly armed men” driving day and night through Rawalpindi to Kashmir. He comments that these did not bear any resemblance to shepherds. The correspondent adds that the raiders are using Pakistan territory as a base in -a casual, not in a military sense. They draw transport and supplies from Pakistan but not military equipment. A few Pakistan officers on leave and without official encouragement, are training the raiders. Mr Nehru’s declaration that India in self-defence might be compelled to enter Pakistan, has created something approaching the eve of war tension in Lahore.