KARACHI: Mr Z.A. Bhutto, Pakistan’s Minister for External Affairs and leader of the Ministerial-level talks on Kashmir, the failure of which was announced in Delhi after the sixth round on Thursday (May 16), has been complimented by all sections of political opinion on the dignified manner in which he had carried out the difficult and prolonged negotiations.

Although the Indians had made it obvious by their attitude in the very first round last December that they were not going to yield any ground at all, and the exchanges across the conference table often became not only profitless, but also painful and irritating, Mr Bhutto maintained throughout a dignity and poise which won the admiration of the Indians themselves.

On several occasions the Indians reopened issues which had been discussed in great detail during earlier sessions, and asked for “information” and “clarifications”.

This time in Delhi, Mr Bhutto maintained his poise and dignity until the very last, although it was apparent from the start that the Indians were not going to move a single inch forward from their old stand of a “settlement” on the basis of the existing ceasefire line “with minor adjustment”. —Special Correspondent