PAKISTAN ACCUSED INVASION OF KASHMIR

Wanganui Chronicle, 17 January 1948, Page 5

PAKISTAN ACCUSED INVASION OF KASHMIR

DEBATE OPENED IN THE U.N.O. SECURITY COUNCIL (N.Z.P.A.—Reuter— Copyright.! New York, Jan. 15. The Pakistan Government was actively assisting the invaders of Kashmir State, Mr. Gopalswami Ayangar, Minister without Portfolio, told the Security Council today in presenting India’s appeal for United Nations mediation in the Kashmir situation. Mr. Ayangar said the situation in Jammu and Kashmir was growing graver daily, and the Security Council should take urgent action to end it. The Indian Government could deal with the invaders by military means, but this might involve the risk of armed conflict with Pakistan. “We would like to exhaust every possible resource for avoiding war, particularly war with people of a neighbouring State with whom centuries of common living, culture and tradition incline us—despite recent happenings —and to continue and develop the ties that bind us.” Mr. Ayangar said that from the beginning of India's independence Pakistan had tried to coerce Kashmir into joining it, but India had exerted no pressure at all. A series of invasions by tribesmen from the North-west Frontier had eventually compelled the Maharajah of Kashmir to appeal for help from the Indian Government, and to announce that Kashmir would become part of India. Mr. Ayangar said: “There is ample proof available that the invaders of Kashmir are not only being allowed transit across Pakistan territory, but also draw much of their equipment, arms, transport supplies and petrol from Pakistan. For three months thousands of tribesmen have crossed Pakistan territory and continued to pour into Kashmir. We have ample evidence 'to prove that the raiders include a large number at Pakistan nationals.” Mr. Ayangar gave as an example of Pakistan aid the fact that the invaders were equipped with .303 rifles, Bren and Sten guns and three-inch mortars, 3.7 howitzers, anti-tank rifles, Mark V mines, and walkietalkie sets. The invaders first ap-

peared without uniforms, but now wore battledress, steel helmets and army greatcoats and boots. Captured vehicles had Pakistan number-plates. Petrol, which was rationed, had been supplied free to vehicles carrying tribesmen to Kashmir. Pakistan officers were training raiders, who were allowed to use Pakistan territory for bases.

Mr. Ayangar said that after Indian troops were attacked at Jhangar by 6000 invaders armed with automatic weapons and mortars, the Prime Minister, Mr. Nehru, on December 22, sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Jinnah, in which the Indian Gov ernment made a final attempt to persuade Mr. Jinnah to take steps to deny all assistance to the raiders. “We received no reply for a week, and we then brought the matter to this Council’s notice.”

Mr. Ayangar quoted a letter from Mr. Jinnah dated December 30, replying to a telegram from Mr. Nehru,, in which Mr. Jinnah asserted that “Sikh attacks on Moslems in East Punjab in August greatly inflamed feeling throughout Pakistan, and it was only with difficulty that Pakistan .tribesmen were prevented from entering the West Punjab to take revenge on Hindus and Sikhs. Your recent action in sending troops to Kashmir on the pretext of Kashmir’s accession has made things infinitely worse.” Mr. Ayangar said: “The attitude of mind disclosed in Mr. Jinnah's reply was regrettable. He did not even attempt to disown the raiders, or condemn their activities. Indeed, the reply almost attempts to extenuate and find an excuse for them.”

Mr. Ayangar said that India wished the Security Council firstly to prevent Pakistan Government personnel from participating in or assisting the invasion of Jammu and Kashmir; secondly, to call on Pakistan nationals to desist from taking part in the fighting; thirdly, to call on Pakistan to deny the invaders access to and the use of territory for operations against Kashmir, and to refuse:'military and other supplies and all other aid that might: tend to prolong the struggle. When Mr. Ayangar had finished, the President of the Council M. Fernand van Langenhove (Belgium) announced that the Pakistan Foreign Minister, Sir Zafrullah Khan, desired to have some time to prepare a reply; therefore he proposed that the meeting adjourn until tomorrow.