690D.91/8–1153: Telegram
The Ambassador in Pakistan (Hildreth) to the Department of State1
143. Prime Minister during my call on him this morning said that [Page 1328] Government of Pakistan was afraid that tribes in north and Azad Kashmiris might make move toward Indian-held Kashmir and that Government of Pakistan had issued instructions to Pakistan army to prevent any breach of cease-fire line.
Prime Minister remarked “responsible” source had told him US had engineered Abdullah ouster to get needed bases Kashmir which US could not obtain India or Pakistan. Agreeing with fantasy this statement he commented US served useful purpose as source of aid to needy countries and at same time target of blame when things went wrong. Prime Minister noted that Indians had lost basis their case for Kashmir since both Maharaja and Abdullah, principal parties to accession to India, now discredited and disappeared.
Defense Secretary in conversation today with Embassy officer was asked what two Prime Ministers would discuss if they met as suggested by Pakistan. He replied, “What can they discuss?” He added that they had discussed the issue threadbare at their last meeting without success and that Nehru would not give way on Abdullah ouster. Pakistanis feared move would lead to communal troubles and start refugee flow again to Pakistan.
Reliable non-government source says majority middle class Karachi people saying it futile for Prime Ministers meet again and that SC useless, therefore only alternative was direct action. Added that they “distressed” over Abdullah ouster and that principal fear was for future Kashmir Muslims. Embassy believes that Government of Pakistan completely frustrated and at total loss as to what to do. Indo-Pakistani relations, at all-time high few weeks ago, have sunk to new low as far as Pakistanis concerned. Embassy has observed more agitation and indignation over this issue than any other in last several years, including Liaquat “troops on border” announcement 1950. Protest strike called for today mainly successful in morning with expectation that procession and public meeting scheduled for tonight will make hartal complete.
- This telegram was repeated for information to New Delhi.↩