UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan yesterday [Sept 29] told India that she was “always prepared to sit across a table and seek ways of settling the Jammu and Kashmir dispute on the basis of justice and honour”.

This categorical offer was made by the Foreign Minister, Syed Sharifuddin Pirzada, in his policy address to the General Assembly.

Looking straight at the turbaned and bearded Foreign Minister of India, Sardar Swaran Singh, who is leading his country’s UN delegation, Mr Pirzada said: “We wish that our two countries make a new beginning in our mutual relations. We desire to resolve the Kashmir dispute between our two countries in a manner which would be honourable to both and just to all. We want to call a halt to the race in armaments which threatens to overtake the efforts of both the countries for the progress and prosperity of their peoples. We are willing to cooperate in this endeavour and in many other ways for the benefit of the two peoples.”

The Foreign Minister affirmed, however, that negotiations with India could not be held if New Delhi continued to maintain that Kashmir was “an integral part of India”.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies from Peking,] the Red Guards have many Muslims among their ranks, China’s Foreign Minister Chen Yi said in an interview here today [Sept 30].

Referring to reports of alleged attacks on Muslims by the Red Guards he said not a single Muslim had been attacked because of his religion.

There had been some incidents, however, in which Red Guards had taken action against Catholic Priests, racist monks and Muslim Imams because under the cloak of religion they had been “spying for the imperialists”.

Marshal Chen Yi said there was complete freedom of religion in China. But, he added, political crimes could not be condoned under this fundamental personal right.

Marshal Chen Yi said he was sure that the people of Pakistan would not forgive a Muslim if he joined hands with India in a criminal conspiracy against Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2016