NEW DELHI: Pakistan External Affairs Minister Z.A. Bhutto told a Press conference here this evening (May 16) that India was responsible for the “complete breakdown” of Kashmir talks. There was at present no point in a summit meeting between President Ayub and Mr Nehru, he added.

Mr Bhutto also made it clear that his country could not accept a proposal for mediation over Kashmir unless it contained something concrete on the terms of reference and time-limit for mediation.

He informed newsmen that Pakistan had asked Britain and America to clarify their mediation proposal, adding that no deadline has been set on when clarifications are to be received.

Mr Bhutto noted that India had repeatedly used force to solve certain problems, such as the Goa, Hyderabad and Junagarh questions.

“Since this unfortunate (Kashmir) dispute arose, we have always tried to reach a peaceful solution,” he said.

Mr Bhutto stated that our “faith in an ultimate solution remains unhampered”.

“We are discouraged and though my discouragement is great I feel this problem will be solved in the interest of the people of the region and of the world,” he added.

Replying to questions, he said nothing had happened during today’s talks that would make mediation in the issue “more difficult or less likely”.—Agencies