LOS ANGELES: Mr Liaquat Ali Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, told a Press Conference here today [May 19] it was “disappointing” that it was taking “so long” to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir. … The Prime Minister said Pakistan was most anxious that the plebiscite should be held “as soon as possible”. “We are willing to have differences on details referred to arbitration,” he said, but added that there was no question of the plebiscite being waived.

… Mr Liaquat Ali declared that “we never broke our word so far and we will never break it.” He added that neither Pakistan nor Trib­esmen would agree to Kashmir being anne­xed by force. — APP staff correspondent in USA.

[Meanwhile, according to news agencies from Geneva,] Four Arab states formally notified United Nations Palestine Concilia­tion Commission that they maintain their objection to participate in direct peace negotiations with “Israel” unless the latter agrees first to take back Arab refugees, reliable sources said… . Ac­­­cording to these sources the Hashemite Jordan joined Egypt, Syria and the Lebanon in a note to this effect on Friday [May 19].

Published in Dawn, May 21st, 2025