INVADERS RETREATING IN KASHMIR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26618, 14 November 1947, Page 5

INVADERS RETREATING IN KASHMIR

NEW DELHI, Rec. 8 p.m. Nov. 11. Royal Indian Air Force Spitfires and Tempests attacked convoys of the invading tribesmen who are retreating to Kohala bridge to reach Pakistan over the river Jlielum. The Indian Defence Minister, Baldev Singh, said Indian infantry were 24 miles beyond Baramula in their pursuit of the invaders. A Defence Ministry communique issued later said the Indian troops’ advance in Kashmir was held up because of the destruction of bridges and opposition from raiders entrenched on high ground on either side <?f the Bara-mula-Uri road, about 10 miles east of Uri. Mr Nehru and the Maharajah of Kashmir, Sir Hari Singh, arrived at Srinagar airfield within 90 minutes of each other. Mr Nehru, who is staying for the night, lunched at the palace and conferred lengthily with the Kashmir Premier, Sheik Abdullah. • A Pakistan communique stated that the Pakistan Government had protested to the Government of India against the occupation of Junagadh State, and demanded withdrawal of India’s troops and the relinquishment of the Administration which India took over. Pakistan declined to confer with India over Junagadh until the withdrawal of India’s troops was completed. The Premier of Junagadh, Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto, said he had not invited the Indian Government to take over Junagadh Administration. All he had done was to seek “ assistance” for the Administration, in view of threats from, without. He said 25,000 Indian troops had surrounded Junagadh city and threatened to unseat its ruler. He placed the whole situation before the Pakistan Foreign Affairs Ministry in Karachi yesterday, and asked for an early meeting with Mr Jinnah

The Union of India has sent troops to the Tripura district, which has already acceded to India, reports Reuter’s New Delhi corrrespondent. This step was taken because of agitation in bordering areas for Tripura’s accession to Pakistan.