Peace Pledge Given

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31001, 5 March 1966, Page 22

Peace Pledge Given

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) RAWALPINDI, March 3. Some light dawned today on prospects for a permanent peace between India and Pakistan, after two days of ministerial talks in Rawalpindi. India’s Foreign Minister, Mr Sardar Swaran Singh, told reporters before leaving for New Delhi last night that the talks had been a major step forward. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister, Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, said later that both sides had moved forward, though “not sensationally or significantly.”

Observers noted that both men made apparent concessions in the stalemate that has affected relations between their countries for 18 years. Their joint communique, issued last night, specifically mentioned Kashmir as a dispute, even though India’s delegation had reiterated that the State is an integral part of India on which there can be no negotiation. ANOTHER MEETING

This moderation of India’s position was seen to be balanced by a statement made by Mr Bhutto. He said Pakistan was prepared to talk about all problems at once, provided there was meaningful discussion on Kashmir. Hitherto Pakistan had insisted on solving the Kashmir dispute before tackling other issues. Both countries renewed in the communique their pledge to seek peace, saying that they had agreed to settle all disputes. The communique specifically referred to the “Jammu and Kashmir dispute.” Both sides agreed to meet at a later date, and official sources said this meeting would probably be next month in New Delhi. In Washington the United States has told India and Pakistan that they may resume buying limited quantities of non-lethal military equipment from them, the Associated Press said. Such items as communications equipment, spare parts for aircraft and motor transports are affected. The freeze; on military aid grants is still j on. This means that arms and ammunition, and tanks and|

rockets are still not available. The United States suspended all military aid shipments to India and Pakistan on September 8 during the Kashmir clash, in which both countries were using Ameri-can-supplied weapons.