Shipments on way will not be bared
RAWALPINDI, July 7.-(AP)—The United States has assured Pakistan it will not interfere with four or five more shiploads of military spare parts and ammunition purchased by Pakistan in the U.S. under licence and still scheduled to arrive here. Foreign Office sources said today.
The disclosure was made on the eve of a visit tomorrow by Dr. Henry Kissinger, Foreing Affairs Adviser to President Nixon.
According to Foreign Office sources, the U.S. has ruled it will not issue new licences to Pakistan but will permit Pakistan to continue shipments of material purchased under existing licences.
The sources said the parts and ammunition were purchased in commercial deals but did not disclose the terms.
Pakistani and American sources said the Kissinger mission was part of an effort to reduce tension and lessen the chances for war over Bangladesh between India and Pakistan.
A Pakistani Foreign Office Official said as a result of the American policy toward Pakistan, “the U.S. is no longer a target for criticism here and people no longer believe the U.S. wanted to see the division of Pakistan.”
U.S. officials here said the policy of providing limited amounts of aid for relief projects and allowing arms shipments has given the U.S. an opportunity to hold a “private dialogue” with the Pakistan military regime in an effort to find a solution to the East Bengal crisis.
Meanwhle, Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan, West Pakistan Chief of the Pakistan Democratic Party, said today in Lahore that a war with India was inevitable and the country should prepare to fight.
He claimed India was trying to bleed Pakistan and said the situation was now more dangerous than in 1965 when India and Pakistan fought a three-week war.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 08.07.1971