Address to Student Leaders at Murree on June 18, 1972

Student leaders of all shades of opinion assured President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto of their complete support and cooperation with regard to the forthcoming negotiations with India beginning on June 28.

The President spent more than two hours with the student leaders and held frank and detailed discussions with them.

This is the first time in Pakistan’s history that the students have been associated with important national matters at the highest level.

The president assured the students that there was no question of compromising on fundamental issues. The president said that Pakistan believed and was committed to the right of self-determination for the people of Kashmir and could never abandon its stand. He said that it was for the Kashmiris to decide their own destiny.

The President said that peace was desired by the people of both countries and war was futile. But peace, he emphasized, must be a peace with honor a peace among equals.

The students pledged their full support to the President in his efforts to bring a durable peace to the South Asian subcontinent. They said that a handful of people were trying to mislead the nation and spreading discontent and sparking off wild speculations. They said that the students were determined not to be misled by such people.