NEW DELHI: The late Pakistan Prime Minister, Z.A. Bhutto, was in favour of signing a no war pact with India in 1972, but domestic compulsions prevented him from doing so, former external affairs minister Swaran Singh, disclosed here on Tuesday.
Recalling the singing of Shimla agreement, Singh told the all India congress committee (AICCI) that Bhutto had confided in him that he could sign a no war pact but in Pakistan anybody doing so would be lynched,
Bhutto, however, told him that the Shimla agreement was as good as a no war pact, Singh recalled.
The current Anti India Tirade by political leaders in Pakistan was more out of domestic compulsions, Singh said adding that in fact no Pakistani leader wanted a war with India.
Opposing internationalising the Kashmir issue, Singh said he had been at the helm of affairs for a long time and now he had come to the conclusion that under no circumstances, India and Pakistan should go to war and the issue should be resolved through talks.
Stating that there were often talks of sealing the IndoPakistan borders, the former external affairs minister said it was not possible to seal the 2,500 KM Long Borders.
‘Singh said the congress (I) had a bigger responsibility as the main Opposition party and suggested that it should avoid making any statement on foreign affairs which could be utilised by other countries.
Verma said under the new village council law, village councilors and headmen would be given the right to make and implement their own development plans.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 3, 1990
