UNITED NATIONS: U Thant, UN Secretary-General, appealed last night [Sept 1] to India and Pakistan for an immediate cease-fire in Kashmir. In identical cables to President Ayub Khan and Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, he said an “outright military confrontation between the armed forces of India and Pakistan is threatened and may be imminent”. This could have “only the gravest implication for the peace of the world”.

U Thant said the use of force to settle a conflict was contrary both to the spirit and letter of the United Nations Charter and to the obligations undertaken by their countries as UN members. U Thant told President Ayub and Mr Shastri that it was essential for the re-establishment of the cease-fire line that a halt should be called to crossings of the line by armed men of both sides, that armed units occupying positions previously held by the other side should be withdrawn and that exchanges of fire across the line should end.

The Secretary-General promised the Indian and Pakistani leaders his “fullest possible assistance in the restoration of peace in Kashmir and the solution of its problems”.

“I make this appeal because I am confident that you believe in peace, as do I. And that you would wish to take any action which would help preserve the peace of the world,” U Thant said.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Jakarta], lack of a thorough understanding on the Kashmir problem on part of the Indian Government has led to the present serious clashes between India and the Kashmiris who want to liberate their country from Indian domination, Minister of State and Secretary-General of the Muslim “Nahadatul Ulama” party, Mr Aminuddin said here today [Sept 2]. He said Muslims all over the world were supporting the fight of the Kashmiris.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2015

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