Kashmir The terrible comment on the fighting in Kash- mir
is that the situation will almost certainly have to get worse before it can get better. The United Nations, powerless to send in a peace force, finds that even its appointed observers can scarcely obtain information. There is no power in the area which can yet be accepted as a mediator by both sides, and any offers are likely to be regarded as suspect by one side or the other. Moreover, the two powers are, now so deeply entrenched that neither of them can easily offer concessions. The stage where compromise agreements are no longer acceptable or meaning- ful seems to have been reached. Much to-ing and fro-ing of the British Commissioners helped to- wards the settlement of•the Rann of Kutch dis- pute, but what was the settlement worth? Un- reported heavy fighting was going on in that very area shortly afterwards, and there was always, as each power, reminded the other, the line else- where. This has now been crossed. Pakistan has overestimated the Kashmiris' will to rise up in arms; she cannot underestimate much longer the Indian will to fight.
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