LAKE SUCCESS: Sir Zafrullah Khan, the Pakistan Foreign Minister, resuming the address to the Security Council tonight [Feb 4] … said that any plebiscite to decide whether Kashmir should accede to India or Pakistan should be free from any kind of pressure. Dr Jose Arce (Argentina) said that the Maharaja had already [undertaken] certain obligations towards India and his Government, therefore, could not be considered in a position to hold an impartial plebiscite. He said the cause of the trouble was that the Kashmir people’s struggle was considered a “rebellion” and the people regarded as cattle and not men. “If we can guarantee them that they themselves will decide their future, I am convinced that the fighting will stop,” he said.

Mr Warren Austin (USA) said that only when the tribesmen are satisfied there will be a fair plebiscite, assured through an interim Government, could there be a peaceful withdrawal. “Nothing short of that is conceivable as a peaceful means of accomplishing the withdrawal of armed forces from Kashmir,” he said. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2023