Health & Supply Problems For Pak Troops
APART from being continuously harassed by the Mukti Bahini, the Pakistani troops in Bangladesh are also facing serious problems, relating mainly to health and supplies.
According to information reaching Calcutta, the soldiers are suffering from gastro-enteritis and other stomach ailments almost everywhere in Bangladesh. This is attributed mainly to water pollution, which had taken place after the monsoon. These sources say that people coming over to this side in recent weeks have reported that at several places many soldiers have been admitted to hospitals.
Shortage of wheat is also reported from inside Bangladesh. It is presumed that the existing stock is running out and that fresh supplies are being sent by sea as, according to official estimates, the Pakistani authorities have to use every inch of their aircraft” for sending arms and ammunition.
But perhaps the most distressing aspect of a Pakistani Soldiers life in Bangladesh is that letters from relatives in West Pakistan do not reach him.
Official sources said on Sunday that there was every reason to believe that these letters were not being delivered by the Army authorities as these “might contain anxious inquiries which are likely to make a soldier restless” It was also felt that letters were not delivered as these might contain references to economic hardships in West Pakistan.
Further evidence or the low morale of Pakistani troops was available in Calcutta during an interview with a Government officials who had recently crossed over. He said on his way from Dacca he had come across young soldiers at various points who had told him that they had been brought from the west with the promised that they would be taken to see Calcutta soon. They are naturally disappointed at the existing conditions. They had also complained of the guerrilla tactics of the Mukti Bahini. “These people are like women. Why can’t they come out and fight us straight in the open” they were reported to have asked him.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 1.11.1971