LAKE SUCCESS: Obstacles to an effective truce between India and Pakistan on the Ka­­s­h­mir issue were outlined in a memorandum of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan issued here today [Sept 7]. The Com­mission got into contact with the India and Pakistan Governments to find an adequate basis for implementing truce agreements.

The Indian Government replied to the Commission that the most important condition of an effective truce was the co-ordination of two factors: (1) Disbanding and disarming of the Azad (Free) Kashmir forces and (2) co-ordination of this disbandment with the withdrawal of Indian forces. The Indian Government further insisted that all Pakistan forces should be withdrawn from Kashmir.

The Pakistan Government declared to the Commission that it was prepared to withdraw its forces from Kashmir provided it could be assured that the Indian forces could be withdrawn simultaneously. From a study of the co­­rrespondence between the … Commission and the two Governments … the Commission concluded that there was no point in trying to continue attempts to bring together a truce confe­rence. Consequently, the Commission cancelled the proposed conference.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2024