NEW DELHI: At the last meeting of the Partition Council today [Aug 6], presided over by Lord Mountbatten, it is believed there was no agreement between the representatives of the Government of India and that of Pakistan on the principles governing the division of assets and liabilities and it was agreed that the question should be referred to an arbitration tribunal.

It is understood that at today’s final session before the transference of power next week reports of various committees on the division of assets and liabilities were discussed. It is believed there was no agreement between the representatives of the Government of India and that of Pakistan on the principles governing the division of assets and liabilities and it was agreed that the questions should be referred to an arbitral tribunal. … The Partition Council which was reported to have held the session today may again meet tomorrow, contrary to early expectations.

… It is understood that the main hurdle relates to the division of the liabilities with particular reference to our public debt which is in the order of 1,800 crores of which Pakistan’s share is computed to be about 30 crores.

Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2022