27081950--180 Text of the Reply dated 27 August 1950 from the Prime Minister of India Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru to the United Nations Representative for India and Pakistan

27081950--180 Text of the Reply dated 27 August 1950 from the Prime Minister of India Mr. Jawaharlal Nehru to the United Nations Representative for India and Pakistan

Thank you for your letter of 23 August. I have gone into your suggestion with my military advisers. We do not consider that it is desirable now to arrange a meeting of the Chiefs of Staff of India and Pakistan. But we are prepared to reduce, of our own accord, the strength of Indian forces now in Jammu and Kashmir by 20 to 25 per cent. The suggestion that the cease-fire line may be maintained merely by using check-posts and other similar measures, does not appear to be feasible. So long as the Kashmir dispute is not settled, effective measures are necessary to ensure the security of the State against possible aggression. If, as we hope, Pakistan also desires a settlement of the dispute by peaceful means, there should be no danger of incidents along the cease fire line that endanger peace, and United Nations observers can help in the loyal observance by both sides of the cease-fire agreement.

(Signed) Jawaharlal Nehru

Prime Minister of India