Office of the Historian

218. Letter From the Pakistani Ambassador (Raza) to the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs (Sisco)1 2

Washington, January 28, 1972

Further to my letter no. SS/19/5/72, dated January 25, 1972, India continues to viola the ceasefire along the India West Pakistan-occupied Kashmir borders. In view of the grave situation which is developing from these serious violations, the Government of Pakistan feel that UN observers should be posted along the border areas. The UN Secretary-General has confirmed that he could strengthen UN observers on Kashmir ceasefire line but he could not repeat not extend their services to India-Pakistan border. For this purpose, a special group of observers similar to those posted on Kashmir ceasefire line needs to be established. This requires the authority of the Security Council through a formal resolution and not in the form of consensus of the members of the Council. The Government of Pakistan, therefore, decided to call a meeting of the Security Council as early as possible for the induction of observers on the borders of India and West Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan would be grateful if the US would kindly support Pakistan’s move for the Security Council meetinq and a for the Council initiatives to post UN observers on Indo-Pakistan border.

  1. Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27–14 INDIA–PAK/UN. No classification marking.↩
  2. Raza informed Sisco that Pakistan intended to call upon the UN Security Council to post UN observers along the border between India and Pakistan to report on Indian violations of the cease-fire. Pakistan requested U.S. support for this initiative.↩