Mr Bhutto was replying to questions by Pressmen on his arrival at the Palam airport from Karachi for the sixth round of Ministerial-level talks on Kashmir beginning tomorrow. A correspondent had asked him what was the hitch in Pakistan’s accepting Mr Nehru’s proposal. Mr Bhutto said there have been replies to Mr Nehru’s proposal. “We have always held that until the problem of Kashmir is settled it will be unrealistic to consider this proposal.”

Mr Bhutto replied in the affirmative when asked if Pakistan has given thought to the proposal for third-party mediation to resolve the Kashmir dispute.

He said it was a matter of procedure. If it was felt that there was ground to come closer on “substance” then such matters could be resolved without difficulty.

He said: “We in Pakistan are always confident and hopeful that this fundamental problem will be resolved in a peaceful manner between our two countries so that our people may live in amity and friendship.” —Correspondent

Eviction of Assam Muslims continues DACCA: Planned eviction and deportation of Indian Muslims from different parts of Assam is continuing unabated.

During the period from April 9 to 24, 349 Muslims were deported to Pakistan via the Latu Mahishan border outpost. Forced to leave behind all their properties in Assam, these unfortunate people have now been made destitute.—Agencies