RAWALPINDI: “There is absolutely no question whatsoever of a joint defence between India and Pakistan.” This brief but categorical statement was made by the External Affairs Secretary, Mr S.K. Dehlavi, at a Press conference tonight (Nov 30).

A foreign correspondent wanted to know if Pakistan still stood by its earlier offer of a joint defence with India.

Mr Dehlavi said Mr Nehru’s statement in the Lok Sabha today that anything which involved upsetting of present arrangements in Kashmir would be harmful to the people of Kashmir “makes absolute nonsense of negotiations”.

Pakistan, he said, had always desired an honourable settlement of the Kashmir issue and its declared policy had been for a plebiscite. If Mr Nehru had something better to offer, it would be considered, he added.—Staff Correspondent