WASHINGTON: The State Department yesterday [July 27] described as “speculative” a report that the United States was nearing a decision on whether to resume sales of certain military equipment to Pakistan.

The report, by an American news agency, said an easing of the sales ban of such military equipment as spare parts for tanks and planes appeared imminent.

The State Department spokesman, Mr Robert McCloske, told questioners that the matter of US military assistance to Pakistan and India was under continuing review by the Johnson administration, but the report involved was speculative.

Other State Department sources said no new decision was imminent.

The US Ambassador to Pakistan, Mr Eugene M. Locke, left Washington last night after consultations with the State Department and a private call on President Johnson. — Agencies

[Our Special Representative adds,] the ban on all arms deliveries to the two countries was imposed in the wake of the Indo-Pakistan war last September. Earlier this year, Washington allowed the sale of what is called non-lethal weapons such as radios, jeeps and trucks to India and Pakistan. But the ban on lethal weapons, which include parts and spares, remains.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Jakarta,] President Soekarno today [July 28] installed Indonesia’s new Cabinet and declared that he was still Prime Minister.

President Soekarno also said that Indonesia’s confrontation against Malaysia had not ended, according to a Radio Jakarta broadcast of his speech at the swearing-in ceremony in the Capital’s Merdeka Palace.

President Soekarno said that under the Constitution the President also held the office of Prime Minister. When Gen Suharto announced the 29-Minsiter Cabinet on Monday he said the post of Premier had been abolished.

President Soekarno said: “I tell foreign correspondents that I am still the Prime Minister because I am the President and in accordance with the 1945 Constitution, the President is the Prime Minister.”

Published in Dawn, July 29th, 2016