690D.91/7–2751: Telegram
The Ambassador in Pakistan (Warren) to the Secretary of State
99. PriMin Liaquat yesterday sent Nehru a tel, the third in his present exchange of msgs with Ind PriMin, which fills three columns in this morning’s papers. Liaquat rejects, with considerable protestation, Nehru’s claim Ind armed forces have been reduced in past year; with quotes from speeches and statements of Ind leaders, asserts it is India and not Pak which is guilty of warmongering; says Nehru’s “claim that Kashmir is part of Ind territory is wholly wrong and untenable”, and occupation of Kashmir by Ind armed forces “under cover of a wholly invalid instrument of accession … was an act of aggression against Pak and against people of Kashmir”; says Nehru is attempting to bolster false claim “thru a puppet assembly … under shadow of Ind bayonets” and present world with fait accompli; argues that when Paks say they will not allow India “grab Kashmir by force” they are not warmongering but merely reflecting fact that continued Ind occupation of Kashmir wld be driving not only Pak, but all peace-loving people throughout world to despair”; “asserts categorically Pak has no intention of attacking Ind territory”; presents five-point proposal reported in Embtel 97, July 27;1 and concludes with “cordial” invitation to Nehru, if he wishes discuss proposal, to visit Karachi “as soon as first essential step … namely withdrawal of concentration of forces, has been carried out.”
As Liaquat’s plan, aside from provision for withdrawal of forces, is essentially a repetition of proposals of arbitration which Nehru has repeatedly rejected, we believe it is advanced for the record only and not with any idea it will be accepted.