321. Telegram 9952 From the Embassy in Pakistan to the Department of State1 2
Subj:
- Indo/Pak Agreement on Kashmir Line: Withdrawal of Forces
Ref:
- Islamabad 2237
1. I consider the December 11 agreement over the Kashmir line to have very important implications. Not only does it open the way for force withdrawals by both India and Pakistan to the international border, but it also makes it possible for both countries to pick up the thread of other positive steps anticipated in the Simla accord of last July. We are well aware, however, that many obstacles remain to the achievement of a qte durable peace in the subcontinent unqte as contemplated in the Simla accord.
2. I believe this is an appropriate time for us to show our pleasure over the Kashmir line delineation and the beginning of force withdrawals, and to underline our hopes that India and Pakistan will continue along the positive path drawn at Simla. This can be done by the Department’s spokesman, and perhaps will already have been done by the time this message reaches Washington. I believe that our pleasure and our hopes can most effectively be expressed to the Government of Pakistan (and presumably also to the Government of India) by a message from President Nixon [Page 2] to President Bhutto (and to Mrs. Gandhi). If some such message is not already in the drafting stage, I recommend that early attention be given to this suggestion.
- Source: National Archives, RG 59, Central Files 1970–73, POL 27 INDIA–PAK. Confidential; Priority; Exdis. Repeated to New Delhi. Agreement on delineation of the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir was announced in Pakistan on December 11. Mutual troop withdrawals to the border between the two countries were scheduled to begin the following day. (Telegram 9965 from Islamabad, December 12; ibid., POL 31–1 INDIA–PAK) The troop withdrawals were completed by December 20. (Telegram 10226 from Islamabad, December 21; ibid.)↩
- Chargé Sober reported that Pakistan and India had reached agreement on delineation of the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir. He speculated that further progress on implementing the Simla accord could be anticipated and he recommended a congratulatory letter from President Nixon to Pakistani President Bhutto and Indian Prime Minister Gandhi.↩