NEW DLEHI: Prime Minister Nehru ruled out the possibility of holding a plebiscite to solve the old Kashmir dispute.

Mr Nehru told an American Correspondent here this morning (Jan 14) that plebiscite was “no solution” for the Kashmir dispute which, according to him, had taken a communal colour since 1947.

Meanwhile, preparations are going on in Indian official circles for the next round of talks on Kashmir between India and Pakistan beginning here from next week.

Pakistan delegation, led by Mr Z.A. Bhutto, will arrive here tomorrow evening for talks. The first round of talks was held in Rawalpindi late last month.

The English weekly of Delhi Evening View quoted Plebiscite Front circles of Kashmir to say that a compressive settlement of Kashmir dispute without association of Shaikh Abdullah and others in (the) forthcoming talks was “simply unthinkable”.

Jammu and Kashmir Plebiscite Front leaders are holding consultations among themselves and a joint memorandum to leaders of the Indian and Pakistani delegations to talks in Delhi “may be presented on their behalf”, the papers said.—Agencies

Delegation to leave for Delhi

KARACHI: The Pakistani delegation to the Pakistan-India Ministerial talks on Kashmir takes off to Delhi in the afternoon today for the second round of “realistic and down-to-earth” talks with India on the vital issue.

Mr Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Minister for Industries and Natural Resources, will again lead the delegation at the Delhi talks. Facing him will be Sardar Swaran Singh, Indian Minister for Railways, as leader of the Indian delegation to Kashmir talks.

Mr Bhutto flew into Karachi from Rawalpindi last evening to join other members of the delegation, who are already here holding consultations among themselves and with the Foreign Office officials for the forthcoming talks.

No new brief has, it is understood, been prepared for second round of talks.—Staff Correspondent