MRS. GANDHI CONDEMNS US ARMS DELIVERY
Pakistan Threatens to Withdraw from Commonwealth
U.S. President Richard Nixon’s adviser Henry Kissinger in a 15 minute talk with Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi Wednesday described as “bureaucratic muddles” U.S. arms deliveries to Pakistan, a communique on the discussion said.
According to the communique, Mrs. Gandhi condemned the deliveries as a threat to peace on the sub-continent. She also stressed the need for a political solution to the crisis in Pakisian to enable the more than seven million East Pakistani refugge to return home.
Rejection
Mrs Gandhi rejected the view that “the impact of the American arms supplies will be militarily marginl and made it clear that the current supplies were connected to the Washington’s massive 2,000 million dollar assistance for Pakistan before the Indo Pakistani war of 1965.
The politicians also dismissed Pakistani President Yahya Khan’s latest statement on his intention to establish a democratic Pakistan under the control of the millitary regime and Mrs. Gandhi declared that Yahya’s intention did not signify a political solution and would not lead to the return of the refugees, the communique said.
Kissinger was greeted in New Delhi Tuesday by 100 demonstrators carrying black flags.
Wednesday about 30 parlamentarians including members of the ruling Congress party merched to the US Embassy in New Delhi and amid chants of “Kissinger go back” handed in a memorandum protesting against the US arms supplies to Pakistan.
Observers view
Observers said the talks came af a difficult time in Indo-American relations because Singh returned from Washington two weeks ago with what be said were assurances that no arms would be sent to Pakistan.
The sources said the Indian ministers hoped Dr. Kissinger would go away with a clear understanding of the depth of feeling in India about the East Pakistan situation and the influx of refugee into India.
They had left him in no doubt that President Yahya Khan’s broadcast of June 28 could not be expected to form the basis of a political settlement and that it had been rejected by the elected representatives of East Pakistan.
The Indian’s presumably expected that Dr. Kissinger would pass on their feelings not only to President Nixon but also to President Yahya and other Pakistani leaders, obsevers said.
Essential message
The message conveyed to Dr. Kissinger was that a total ban on American arms supplies to Pakistan was essential because the fate on the 76 million people of East Pakistan was at stake.
If urgent steps were not taken the consequences would be grave.
Dr. Kissinger also had talks Wenesday with the Indian Defence Minister, Jagjivan Ram and the Planning Minister, Subramaniam.
The arrival of President Nixon’s Adviser on National Security Dr Henry Kissinger will mark a turning point in US- Pakistani relations.
Observers commented on the marked change in the American attitude during the last few weeks they said the Western World Was playing an important part in American-Pakistani relations, particularly since relations between Pakistan and the Eastern aid consortium were strained, and Pakistan had bitterly criticized Britain and the British press.
Seeing West Pakistan supported only by People’s China could push the Americans toward a more conciliatory attitude, diplomatic sources said.
They said the presence of a large number of Pakistani army troop in East Pakistan only two hundred miles from the Chinese border changed the military situation on the Indian sub-continent.
Several diplomats expressed uneasiness over the possiblity of an open conflict between India and Pakistan. They said that althouth Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and President Yahya Khan have acted with reserve public opinion and the presence of the mllitary may lead to a worsening in the situation.
Pakistan protests
Pakistan has protested to the British Government over a joint Indo-British statement at the end of Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh’s visit to Britain earlier this month.
A foreign office spokesman said Wednesday that the protest note was handed in to the British High Commissioner in Islamabad on July five.
The statement by Sir Alec Douglas-Home and Swaran Singh spoke of a “political settlement acceptable to the people of East Pakistan” as a condition for the return of displaced persons to East Pakistan.
The protest note underlined that right from the start of army action in East Pakistan last March India had been pleading for negotiations with the East Pakistani Awami League but that the Pakistan Government is unprepared to enter such talks with “secessionist elements.”
Only a few days ago the Pakistan Government had said it was reviewing its relationship with Britain and press reports suggest that Pakistan might withdraw from the Commonwealth in protests against the ‘pro-Indian’ attitude of Britain on the East Pakistani issue.
Bonn’s aid suspended
Meanwhile Dr. Erhard Eppler, minister for eonomic cooperation, said in Bonn Wednesday said West Germany will send no further development aid to Pakistan until it fulfils specific economic and political pre-conditions.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 09.07.1971