UNITED NATIONS: The Security Council President, US delegate Adlai Stevenson, yesterday adjourned further discussion on the Kashmir issue until after the Indian elections as was asked for by India, noting that both sides had expressed a desire for peaceful settlement.

Earlier, in reply, which bypassed all the main issues so tellingly highlighted by Pakistan delegate Chaudhri Mohammad Zafrullah Khan in his 100-minute speech, Indian representative C.S. Jha reinforced rather than allayed Pakistan’s apprehensions about Indian designs.

Referring to Chaudhri Zafrullah’s explanation why Pakistan continues to reject the proposal for a “no-war declaration” without first both parties agreeing on the procedure for settlement of disputes, Mr Jha said: “If Pakistan has fear that India will attack her, why does she not accept the no-war declaration offer and safeguard herself against that fear?”

Pakistani circles and members of two other delegations described this as a further attempt to blackmail Pakistan into agreeing to settle disputes with India on India’s own terms. Against this reinforced threat, Mr Jha’s assurance that “India will not use force to liberate parts of Kashmir held by Pakistan” fell flat on the Security Council’s horseshoe table.

Most delegates appeared impressed by Chaudhri Zafrullah’s masterly marshalling of facts and records. As he warned the Council that tensions had “mounted to a dangerous degree in the past few weeks” and threats uttered by senior Indian leaders “have created a sense of crisis and foreboding in Pakistan that on this occasion it may be difficult to maintain peace”, an uneasy stir visibly passed around the table.—Agencies