NEW DELHI: After 11 days of intensive negotiations, Indian and Pakistani negotiators today [Aug 26] signed an agreement on the solution of the humanitarian problems resulting from the 1971 war. The agreement, which was signed at 5 minutes past 7 p.m. Indian Standard Time (6.30 PST) in the Conference Room of the South Block of the Indian Secretariat barely a few yards from Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi`s office, will be made public simultaneously from Islamabad, New Delhi and Dacca tomorrow. ...
[T]he leaders of the two delegations, Pakistan`s Mr Aziz Ahmad and India`s Mr P.N. Haksar, warmly shook hands and exchanged felicitations after the signing ceremony. Talking to Pressmen, Mr Aziz Ahmad said that the negotiations had been longdrawn out. `At times they had been difficult but thanks to the understanding, sagacity, far-sightedness and mutual goodwill shown by the Prime Ministers of the three countries, who were the real inspirers, the talks proved successful.
[Agencies add]: Mr Haksar told the Press that the agreement would not have been possible `but for the fact that all-around great vision and statesmanship have been shown`.
