Revisiting Indo-Pak Negotiations on Kashmir 1962-63
By K.N. Pandita – President Kennedy and Prime Minister Harold Macmillan met in Bermuda December 20, 1962. They agreed to provide $ 120 million as “emergency” military aid to India to face short-term threat from China. Rebuffing Commonwealth Secretary Duncan Sandys’ concern that “should the West aid India and the Kashmir talks fail, it would have disastrous effect on Pakistan”, President Kennedy asked,” What would be so disastrous if Pakistan left CENTO? What do we get from Pakistan? In return for protection of our alliance and our assistance what do they do for us?” This was also indirect disapproval of Macmillan’s expression of more concern for Pakistan and criticism of India.
As Chinese troops crossed and routed Indian border post in North East, President Kennedy began responding to Nehru’s startling request for military equipment. He sounded Pakistan to give a commitment that it would not try to fish in disturbed waters by contemplating indirect support to China in opening another front with India on her western border. Ayub Khan’s response was that such a commitment was contingent upon a just solution of Kashmir issue. This was not the first time that Pakistan was making any demand from the US for regional peace contingent to Washington bringing pressure on India to resolve Kashmir issue.