00001964 Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan s Broadcast to the Nation in 1964.

00001964 Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, President of Pakistan s Broadcast to the Nation in 1964.

My dear countrymen, Assalamo-Alaikum, On your behalf, as well as on mine, I should like to convey to the people of India our sincere condolence on their recent bereavement and great national loss. We share the grief which they feel over the death of their Prime Minister,

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, and have sympathy for them.

An event like this should be an occasion for a searching of the heart by all those ordained by God to be in charge of human affairs. Those placed in positions of authority, or control over human destiny, carry a grave responsibility on their shoulders. They have the opportunity and the power to do Immense good or incalculable harm. The consequences are not confined to their own nation but extend to others. For the nations of the world are now so closely interlinked that the affairs of one have repercussions on the fate of others.

We wish India well in her hour of sorrow. And we extend a warm hand of friendship to the people of India across our borders. Now may be the occasion for both sides, in particular, for the new leadership in India, to have a fresh look at our relationship. On our part, we shall respond to any sincere move for the improvement of Indo-Pakistan relations.

The bitterness and recriminations, which have gone on for nearly seventeen years between us, have done on good to either side. They have only caused human misery and sufferings, apart from incalculable loss in material terms.

Hatred and anger fan the fires of Hell in human minds. Why not put them out? And why allow immense suffering and misery to be caused to fellow human beings? It is much nobler and more conducive to one's own happiness, to live on terms of friendliness and good neighbourliness with others.

India and Pakistan are neighbours, for better or worse. Why let it be for the worse? Why not try the alternative of living together for the better?

We both have within our countries more than one community professing different faiths. They could hate and fight one another. They could also, with a little self-control, learn to be tolerant of one another. This is not something beyond humans. capacity. For any civilized and organised society the way to greatness with honour lies in forbearance and discipline.

There are undoubtedly some differences between our countries. It would not be realistic, nor conducive to good results, if we were to ignore them. What is required is a change of heart. Look at the history of some European countries who until recently were the worst enemies of one another. And think of the human suffering their enmity led to-not only for themselves but for the world as a whole. Yet today they are organizing themselves into a community of close and friendly neighbours. Instead of trying to destroy themselves, they are helping and strengthening one another. The material advantage. for which most of the wars took place fruitlessly, have now been gained by them by composing their differences and by forgetting the decades of past hatred. Those little bits of territory for which they fought with such grievous losses no longer seem to matter to them. The differences and disputes which looked so intractable and insoluble have vanished as if by a magic wand. That magic wand was nothing but a change of heart. Hatred and enmity were replaced by friendship and good neighbourliness. And the gains from them are incalculable.

It should be easier for India and Pakistan to resolve their differences because both need peace and security to develop their countries and improve the lot of their teeming millions. Herein lies our future, and not in preparing for war with each other which is such a waste of human and economic resources, even if no war takes place.

The major irritant in Indo-Pakistan relations is the Kashmir dispute. Everyone knows that the dispute exists. It cannot be just wished away. It would be more realistic and statesmanlike to face it and resolve it. It has been festering our relations far too long.

It is vital to settle this issue on an equitable basis and without any delay, for the people of Kashmir, who are rightly agitated, will not wait indefinitely.

The eyes of the world are on us. And if we can come to a sensible settlement, we shall have made a historic contribution to world peace. And its effect will be electric, not only in international councils and affairs, but also on the minds of our own people.

We must get rid of the morbid fear that any settlement of this dispute will jeopardise the position of minorities. On the contrary, I believe that the Kashmir dispute is responsible for agitating communal passions. It requires courage and statesmanship to cut this gordian knot. The good it will do will far outweigh the loss, if any. It will give the minorities on each side a breath of relief and feeling of reassurance. or civilived Government can treat a large section of its No population as hostages. To my mind it is not beyond human ingenuity to be able to work out an arrangement whereby the position of the minorities can be fully secured and safeguarded.

The Muslim minority in India, which belonged to that country at the time of partition, placed its trust in the good sense and decency of the majority community. Given the chance, it could be of great strength and benefit to India. No person who considers the situation coolly and justly can believe that the Indian Muslims constitute any threat to the security. of India. That country has been well served by Muslims whom she gave a chance to do so.

A welcome visit last month was that of Sheikh Abdullah. It was unfortunately cut short by the sudden death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. I was deeply impressed by Sheikh Abdullah's sincerity and determination to see the Kashmir dispute resolved in a manner which would not harm Pakistan's vital interests, and to bring about happier relations between India and Pakistan in this context. He realises that the people of Khamir are most unhappy with their present lot, and that without a settlement of the Kashmir dispute there can be no resolution. of the differences between India and Pakistan. He also feels strongly that the lot of the Indian Muslims cannot improve unless there is communal harmony within each country and friendship between the two countries.

I agree with him. Apart from human considerations, the moral and international stature and strength of India depend on having an understanding with Pakistan. Material advantages. are also bound to accrue. To mention only one, the crushing military budget, expected in the case of India to rise beyond 900. crore rupees annually, could be reduced by half immediately.