COMPROMISE AN AGREEMENT ON REPATRIATION EXPECTED SOON Pakistan Rejects Border Incident Issue
Bhutto Sees War Ahead?
A compromise agreement is expected shortly between India and Pakistan on the repatriation of its diplomats from Dacca and Calcutta, according to a report from New Delhi.
A reply is still awaited from Pakistan to proposals put forward by India on Tuesday for breaking the impasse. When it comes, it could lead to a solution to the problem informed sources said.
The Indian mission in the East Pakistani capital of Dacca and the Pakistani office in Calcutta were closed last Monday.
Pakistan’s demand – refused by India – that East Pakistani diplomats who took over the office 11 days ago as a Bangla Desh (Bengal Nation) mission be sent home has been a major factor in the dispute.
The two sides have also been unable to agree on the route by which the diplomats should be brought out. India turned down a suggestion that its-officials be flown via Katmandu while Pakistani diplomats were sent directly back to Karachi.
With the Pakistan Army asserting more and more control over strife-torn East pakistan, it might prove possible to take the Indians overland on the 90 miles (144 kms) journey from Dacca to the Indian border.
India Wednesday accused Pakistan of five border violations in two days but no fresh reports were received of trouble until Thursday, evening.
Tension Fades Away
After moving towards a confrontation in Monday when India placed restrictions on Pakistani diplomats leaving the country, the tension seemed to be fading Thursday. There was a full in the exchange of diplomatic broadsides.
Sources said India clearly now felt it was not in its interest to allow attention to be diverted from events in East Pakistan by the side issue of the Dacca and Calcutta missions. The government view is that Pakistan only raises the tempeature diplomatically in an effort to cover up its crackdown on the secessionists in East Pakistan.
The Press Trust of India (PTI) reported that Pakistan troops machinegunned a group of about 900 East Pakistani men trekking towards the India border in the Cooch Behar area.
According to PTI, Pakistani planes have been dropping leaflets over East Pakistan carrying photographs of the Awami League leader, Shelkh Mujibur Rahman, with the notice “he is a traitor..” He is arrested.
Phone lines keep open
A Pakistani spokesman said the High Commissioner Sajjad Hyder had called at the Foreion Office Thursday to ask whether India preferred that talks about repatriation should continue in Delhi or in Islamabad when Acharya returns.
He also asked that the phone lines between Delhi and Islamabad be kept open so that the High Commissions should remain in constant touch with their capitals.
The moves directed from Islamabad were seen as further evidence of the desire to reach agrement.
The Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner in Calcutta Mahdi Masud, after 48 hours “virtual internment” at a police rest house in Calcutta, had now been moved and allowed to phone High Commission in Delhi, the spokesman said.
Pakistan asked that Hyder be kept constantly informed of Masud’s where abouts and that Masud be allowed to phone Delhi at least once a day.
If these conditions were not met, the Pakistan Government might have to reconsider the facilities given to the Indian Deputy High commissioner in Dacca.
Pakisan rejects Indian charges .
According to Associated Press of Pakistan reports in Islamabad Thursday Pakistan rejected as “totally” false” the Indian Charges that Pakistani troops had intruded into Indian territory and fired across the border from East Pakistan.
India had-also alleged that as a result of the firing by Pakistani troops some Indian nationals were killed or wounded.
Categorically denying the Indian charges of “agressive activities” by Pakistani troops a Foreign Office spokesman said they had not intruded into Indian territory.
On the other hand Indian armed infiltrators had tried to intrude into Pakistan and indulge in subversive activities. In some cases India intruders had been apprehended or eliminated. This was confirmed by the confessions of Indian soldiers who were recently captured well within the Pakistan territory.
The Forign Office spokesman also rejected the allegation by Indian that there was “indiscriminate firing” on the Indian enclave of Banseachi saying “no such incident took pace”. In fact, he said it was India which is guilty of agression against Pakistan enclaves in Cooch Bihar
Chandpur port returns to normal
Reports said the flourishing river port of Chandpur about forty miles from Dacca on the banks of mighty Meghna was beginning to gain momentum after a spell of offenese created by the terorisms of miscreants.
Chandpur, famous for its hilsa fish throughout East Pakistan had picked up the thread of normal activity when eyewitnesses visited it last week.
They drove from Comilla to Chandpur and spent a day there.
Kosygin’s meassage to Yahya
According to Radio Pakistan President Yahya Khan has received a message from Soviet Premier Alexei Kosygin.
The radio said it was believed to be a reply to one sent to the Soviet Premier by President Yahya Khan. The contents were not disclosed.
Premier Kosygin and head of State Nikolai Podgorny had sent earlier messages to the Pakistani Head of state.
Bhutto’s comment
In Rawalpindi meanwhile Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto chairman of the People’s Party, the majority group in West Pakistan, told newsmen that he did not rule out the possibility of war breaking up between India and Pakistan.
He said Pakistan should take all precautions to meet any crisis that could rise.
Bhutto said he had thanked the Chinese Ambassador on behalf of the People of Pakistan for China’s prompt and effective support of Pakistan’s struggle to defend its national independence and territorial integrity.
There was no cause for disappointment over the transfer of power and the People of Pakistan should be patient as the country, was passing through a crisis, he said.
Bhutto had earlier protested against a letter from Soviet President Nikolai Podgorny to President Yahya Khan.
He said the letter which called for a political settlement of the East Pakistani crisis was an interference in Pakistan’s internal affairs.- Reuter.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 10.05.1971