MOSCOW: Following President Ayub`s discussions in Moscow with the Soviet leaders there is now complete accord between the Soviet Union and Pakistan on the need for preventing the spread of nuclear weapons specially in the troubled Middle Eastern and South Asian region and the rise of a sixth nuclear Power [Sept 29].
President Ayub Khan is believed to have expressed Pakistan`s readiness to sign the draft treaty on nuclear non-proliferation tabled by the Soviet Union and the United States provided India does the same. Lately, India has been hedging over the issue and trying a bargain with the Soviet Union and the United States.
Both the Soviet Union and the United States are strongly opposed to India`s demand for option in the proposed treaty permitting `peaceful nuclear explosions`.
The Soviet Government accepts the view expressed at the Geneva Disarmament Conference by the American delegate that a nuclear device capable of moving vast quantities of earth was also capable of destroying a city.
On the guarantee against China`s growing nuclear power, demanded by India, the Soviet Government has taken the view that any such guarantee should be within the framework of the United Nations and should not give the impression of a Soviet-US nuclear alliance against China. Correspondent [Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Kathmandu,1 Communal disturbances have taken place in some areas of Cachar district in Assam, according to Indian Press reports. A report from Shillong says District Magistrate, Cachar has imposed Section 144 in Karimgang town and its suburbs following communal disturbances and incidents of arson and assaults since Monday [Sept 25].
Ten persons were reportedly injured but no casualty figure had been given. Meanwhile the death toll of communal disturbances near Gorakhpur in UP has risen to 14 following two more deaths in the hospital.