A much mellowed Sheikh Abdullah to-day [October 15, New Delhi] indicated clearly his readiness for talks to solve the “Kashmir problem”, but found “those in a position to deliver the goods” lacking the necessary desire and will to find a solution. The Sheikh, who was the chief guest at a luncheon meeting of the Press Club of India, said that any solution which would ensure peace in the sub-continent — India, Pakistan and Kashmir — would be acceptable to him. He ruled out an independent Kashmir as, he said, there were many difficulties in pursuing this idea. “If there is desire for peace on all sides, the only course is to sit together and negotiate. Unfortunately the will is lacking and my feeling is that the desire is not there,” he said. The Sheikh faced a barrage of questions some of which were provocative, but he was not provoked except by one question relating to his nationality. He angrily retorted “I do not know how this question should crop up.”
