Yahya asks Heath to help avert war
LONDON, NOV. 25Pakistan today officially asked Britain to use its influence to Prevent a worsening of the India-Pakistan situation, according to informed sources here, reports Reuter.
Pakistan’s High commissioner in London, General Mohammad Yousuf, telephoned the British Prime Minister, Mr. Heath, of an urgent appointment. Mr. Heath rearranged his engagements and spent two minutes with the High Commissioner.
It is understood that the High Commissioner handed to Mr. Heath a message from President Yahya Khan in which he expressed the hope that Britain would use its influence “to restrain India”.
According to informed sources in New Delhi, the Soviet Union is understood to have informed the US that Pakistan should find a political solution to the Bangladesh crisis.
This Soviet view has been conveyed to the US government following Washington’s contact at different levels in the last 24 hours to diffuse the Indo-Pakistani tension.
The Soviet Union is also understood to have told the USA that Pakistan should take the first step for releasing Sheikh Mujibur Rahmna and hold talks with the East Bengali leader.
Meanwhile, New Delhi is not particularly impressed by the flurry of diplomatic activity in several world capitals urging patience to both India and Pakistan, add agencies.
India’s position continues to be that any world pressure should be applied on President Yahya Khan to put an end to the continuing flight of refugees from East Bengal which has brought about the present crisis.
India maintains that only a political solution could settle the present impasse. It feels that world powers should pressurise Pakistan to hold talks with the Awami League leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and the elected and accredited representatives of the people of East Bengal.
New Delhi today received a report from Mr. Krishna Rasgotra, India’s Charge, d’ Affaires in Washington on his talks with Mr. William Rogers, the US Secretary of State.
Mr. Rogers yesterday asked diplomats form India and Pakistan to see him in his office “in the light of the military clashes that have appeared to have taken place.”
During the separate 20 minutes meetings, Mr. Rogers said that unless the fighting ended on the East Bengal border and troops were withdrawn, serious consequences could be expected.
One sign of the American concern was the state Department suggestion that American citizens leave at least two cities in Pakistan Dacca and Lahore.
A report from Hong Kong says: The Chinese Premier, Mr. Chou EnLai, has expressed his concern over the military situation along the East Bengal border in the past few days, according into the New China News Agency. Mr. Chow made this known at a meeting with the Pakistani Ambassador Mr. K. M. Kaiser, in Peking yesterday.
The agency described the discussions, in which the Chinese Vice Foreign Minister, Mr. Han Nien-lung , also took part, as cordial and friendly.
It gave no other details apart form saying that Ambassador Kaiser presented a letter from President Yahya Khan to Premier Chou at the meeting.
In Washington US administrative sources acknowledge that the possibility of a general war was present.
While Mr. Rogers said the troops pullback was the most immediate way to prevent developments towards full scale war, US officials considered the United Nations Security Council as holding the potential of a more nearly permanent settlement.
The US has been in touch with the Soviet Union, France and Britain about the India-Pakistan situation while there had been no contact with china, this is till a possibility since Peking has reportedly counselled restraint by Pakistan.
A State Department spokesman Mr. Charles Bray, refused yesterday to discus any elements of the American role. He even refused to confirm or deny a statement made in a letter to the November 3 New York Times by Mr. Benjamin Oehlert jr. former US Ambassador to Pakistan that a long-standing agreement commits the US to aid Pakistan “even with our own arms and men” if attacked.
Taujug reports from Timisaora, Yugoslovia. President Tito and the Rumainan President Ceausescu had called for a political solution to the Bangladesh problem.
At their talks yesterday both the Presidents noted that dangers for world peace existed in West Asia and Vietnam and especially along the India-Pakistan frontier, pressing exclusively for a political solution in each case.”
They expressed fear that a “greater and wider India-Pakistan military conflict could not be confined to those two countries.”
At Palam airport New Delhi the Singapore Prime Minister, Mr. Lee Kuan Yew, today expressed the hope that there would be a “sensible, amicable settlement” between India and Pakistan.
There had been two wars between India and Pakistan and they did not settle any basic problem. “I doubt whether a third war will settle them”, he told newsmen.”
Malik not approached
Indonesia’s Foreign Minister and President of the U. N. general Assembly , Dr. Adam Malik, said in Kuala Lumpur that India and Pakistan have not make any move so far for a UN: debate on the IndiaPakistan conflict.
Speaking to newsmen on arrival for a five-nation regional conference, Dr. Malik said so far both countries have not made any approaches to bring up the matter in the UN.
“They have to make an approach before it can be taken up,” he said.
According to a report in the New York Times, Pakistan has not moved to call for a meeting of the Security council because it is uncertain whether it will get the support of Big Powers to consider the charges of “large scale invasion of East Pakistan” by India.
The paper says that the US The Soviet Union, China and Britain have political reasons of their own for avoiding a public discussion of the “India-Pakistan conflict” at this stage.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 26.11.1971