Pak war drums alarm Moscow
MOSCOW, Oct. 10. (PTI)—Reports of Pakistani troops concentration along India’s northern and North-Western borders were published here yesterday, reflecting Soviet concern over the new aggressive posture of Pakistan.
Coming in the midst of the public campaign here to bring pressure on Pakistan to seek an urgent political settlement in East Bengal in its own interest and in consideration of peace in the subcontinent, these reports have apparently added to Soviet anxieties.
The Communist Party paper “Pravda” followed up a PTI report about concentration of Pakistan troops on the right bank of the Sutlej river with a message quoted to an American agency saying that more than 2,50,000 troops were concentrated by Pakistan on the border stretching from Kashmir to Hyderabad in Sind.
The paper told its readers that one of the crop commanders in the sector was Lieutenant-General Tikka Khan who earned notoriety as the Military Administrator of East Bengal from the beginning of the military operations there in March.
By way of background. “Pravda” quoted a West Pakistani newspaper, “New Times,” as saying that anti-Indian sentiments were on the increase in West Pakistan and that air defence exercises take place in many big towns there.
The publication of these reports even as Moscow was awaiting a response to its diplomatic efforts with Pakistan for a speedy political settlement of the East Bengal problem was seen in informed quarters here as an indication of Soviet disquiet over the mounting tension on the border.
Meanwhile, public meetings continue to be reported from various parts of the country convence to express, as Tass reported yesterday, Soviet “anxiety and alarm in connection with the events in East Pakistan.” The meetings and public statements have followed Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s talks with Soviet leaders last month and the agreement to coordinate steps towards making Pakistan see reason.
According to Tass, meetings in Moscow, Minsk, Riga and other towns adopted resolutions calling on the Government of Pakistan to heed the voice of world public and restore the legitimate rights of the people of East Bengal.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 11.10.1971