115. Letter From President Ayub to President Kennedy0
My Dear Mr. President, Three months ago, I had the honour of writing to you in connection with a procedural move by Pakistan in the Security Council on the Kashmir question. The Council decided to consider the substantive aspects of the dispute after March 1, 1962. It has since been agreed by its Members to hold a meeting on April 27.
It is our hope that the Council will address itself squarely to the task of resolving the deadlock which has been obtaining for the last several years over the implementation of the relevant UN resolutions.
In view of the disagreement between the parties as to which side is responsible for the deadlock, an obvious step for the Council to take would be to proceed to determine the state of implementation of the resolution of the United Nations Commission for India and Pakistan of 13 August 1948, and to find out what needs to be done by either side so as to make progress towards the achievement of the United Nations objectives in Kashmir.
The Council may well heed the assistance of a suitable person to be enabled to discharge this responsibility. We are inclined to think that at this stage of consideration of the Kashmir question, the designation of a person of integrity and international standing from one of the non-aligned African countries is likely to commend itself most widely to members of the United Nations.
If this proposition fails to obtain the necessary majority, the Security Council could turn to a recommendation of Dr. Frank P. Graham, in his report of 28 March 1958, that the two heads of government should meet, in the presence of a United Nations representative, to resolve the outstanding differences between India and Pakistan on the implementation of the UN resolutions on the Kashmir issue. The presence of the United Nations could be most effectively ensured in such bilateral negotiations, for the reason stated, by the designation of a suitable person from one of the non-aligned African Members of the United Nations.
In expressing these thoughts for your consideration, I am not oblivious of Prime Ministers Nehru’s reiterated opposition to the presence of a third party in any talks that may be held between him and myself. I am only too painfully aware of this adamant stand of his on the issue which to me, seems utterly unreasonable. At the same time, I must point out [Page 235] that if the good offices of a third person are not made available to the two of us, no useful purpose is likely to be served by our meeting. Pakistan will be bound to insist that the two UNCIP resolutions should constitute the basis of any settlement of the Kashmir dispute. On the other hand Mr. Nehru has been insisting on the status quo as the only course open for a solution. It is in such circumstances that the good offices of the United Nations through a designated representative, become most essential if not indispensable, to the prospects of a fruitful confrontation. It may be possible for this third person to suggest approaches after taking into account the relevant UN resolutions and the vital interests at stake—without placing any responsibility for his initiatives on either Pandit Nehru or myself—in order to prevent a breakdown in our discussions.
I have ventured to share these thoughts with you in the hope that you will appreciate the reasons why Pakistan feels it incumbent upon itself to ask for Security Council discussion and act:ion on the Kashmir question. I am confident that in our efforts to redeem the promise and pledge of self-determination and justice to the people of Kashmir we may rely on your sympathy and full support.
Pakistan’s appeal to the Security Council is in no way incompatible with bilateral talks between Prime Minister Nehru and myself. It follows from what I have said above that the Security Council alone will be able to provide an element to such discussions which is essential to prevent their precipitous breakdown and to keep them going until an equitable and realistic solution of the Kashmir dispute is achieved.
Prime Minister Nehru invited me to visit India to continue our previous discussions on the India-Pakistan questions, including the Kashmir dispute. ‘While expressing my readiness to accept his invitation, I suggested to him that it would be advisable first to prepare the ground for a fruitful outcome to a meeting at our level lest a failure result in the exacerbation of relations between our two countries and an aggravation of the existing tension in the sub-continent. To my mind, prudence demands that preliminary talks should take place at the official or ministerial level to explore the outlines and prospects of the negotiations which might be held at the level of the heads of government if they are to lead to a final resolution of this grave and tragic problem.
While agreeing to preliminary talks at official level, India insisted that the move in the Security Council must first be abandoned. What I fear to contemplate is the contingency of interminable meetings at a lower level being protracted for weeks and months to circumvent Pakistan’s appeal to the Security Council. A suggestion made by us that we might have such a meeting before the matter comes up in the Security Council in pursuance of the move made by us, was turned down. I see [Page 236] from certain reports that this suggestion is being misrepresented as a demand for the Kashmir settlement within a week or ten days.
Pakistan, throughout the entire period of fourteen years for which the dispute has lasted, has given proof, time and again, of its moderation, patience and faith in the solution of international disputes by peaceful means in the face of provocation, intransigence and threats of violence from our great neighbor.
I realise only too well that without the goodwill and support of the United States in the Security Council, the cause of self-determination for the people of Kashmir will inevitably be lost I am confident Mr. President, that your great country which had done so much for the freedom of men and nations will not let this happen.
Yrs Sincerely,
- Source: Department of State, Central Files, 690D.91/4-3062. No classification marking. The salutation and closing of the letter are handwritten. The letter was forwarded to McGeorge Bundy on April 30 under cover of a memorandum from Lucius Battle stating that it was received from the Embassy of Pakistan.↩