WASHINGTON: The United States and the Soviet Union were strongly opposed to a resumption of hostilities between India and Pakistan and have agreed to work as a moderating influence, official American sources said.... The tension … was discussed at a two-hour meeting, which American Secretary of State Willaim Rogers had ... with Soviet Foreign minister Andrei Gromyko....

At the talks, the USSR agreed to intensify its efforts to prevent India from giving military support to the rebels. At the same time the United States would use its influence with Pakistan to try to bring about a satisfactory political settlement as soon as possible.

A US official said: “Both the United States and the Soviet Union recognise there is a dangerous and complex situation in the sub-continent and believe war is no solution. …”

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies in Rawalpindi,] Mian Tufail Mohammad, Acting Amir Jamaat-i-Islami, said ... the salient features of the Constitution explained to him by the President today [Oct 1] will be the best framed so far both ideologically and democratically. … Mian Tufail said whatever the President has explained to him about the constitution he was totally satisfied with it....

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2021