Dacca ‘to fall next week’
Indian military sources said last night that they would take Dacca early next week. This followed a helicopter crossing by Indian troops of the strategie Meghna river after which the Indians claimed no major obstacle stood between them and the East Pakistan capital, Bangladesh guerillas moved ahead to try to preserve bridges over streams ahead of the Indian troops.
In Dacca, where Britons UN staff and other foreigners have given up hope of being evacuated, the Intercontinental Hotel has been declared a Red Cross central area. North of the city, Pakistani forces were reported to be putting up staff resistance but they were being cut off.
The Indian Government appealed to East Bengalis not to take the law into their own hands. In London, fears were expressed for two million Bihari Moslems who had hitherto failed to support the Bangladesh Independence movement.
In the west Pakistan forces launched another heavy attack, with four battalions, armor and aircraft, in their attempt to cut India’s supply to Kashmir. But Indian forces were threatening to cut the lines in West Pakistan in several places.
While there were statements on the Kasmir front the Indians attacked north of Lahore and were inside West Pakistan in Sindh, where Pakistan has deployed forces to meet several possible Indians-attacks which would threaten the lines from Karachi from the air and by naval raiding parties have continued. Three hundred British women and children were flown out of Karachi yesterday and more foreigners are hoping to be evacuated during the weekend.
Mr Heath last night affirmed the British Government ‘s aim of staying friendly to both sides. He said it was not right for the Government to pass judgements, and Britain sought a peaceful solution to the problem.
A meeting between Mr Bhutta and the UN security General U Thant, was postponed at the last moment at Mr Bhutto’s request.
Reference: The Guardian, 11 December, 1971