Gromyko’s visit meant to deter Yahya Khan
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, Aug. 7.- Mr. Gromyko’s visit to India is meant to deter Gen. Yahya Khan from issuing threats of war from time to time, an official spokesman said today. He, however, did not explain what precise measures India and the Soviet Union were likely to take jointly to achieve this objective.
The spokesman’s statement is a measure of the great importance New Delhi attaches to the visit which begins tomorrow and may last four or five days. The ground for the success of the visit has been well prepared through diplomatic talks in New Delhi and Moscow especially, since the announcement that President Nixon would visit China.
The Soviet Foreign Minister’s visit is likely to end with the signing of a joint statement spelling out the identity of view between New Delhi and Moscow on world issues in the context of Mr. Nixon’s projected trip to China and the belligerent attitude of Gen. Yahya Khan.
There is no doubt that the announcement of Mr. Nixon’s visit to China and the support extended by Washington and Peking to Islamabad on the Bangladesh problem have brought the Soviet Union and India much closer to each other.
Indian Ministers and officials refer to the Soviet Union with particular warmth these days. The Soviet President was the first among world statesmen to write to Gen. Yahya Khan advocating a political settlement. Moscow has, moreover, not merely stopped supplies of arms to Pakistan but make a public announcement of its action.
At the other end, criticism of the USA is becoming more and more outspoken. By comparison, New Delhi’s criticism of China is rather mild.
India’s relations with the USA began deteriorating after it became known that Washington was continuing to supply arms to Pakistan even though Mr. Swaran Singh, while in the USA. had been assured that these supplies had been stopped pending a settlement of the Bangladesh problem.
Mr. Kissinger tried to assuage New Delhi’s feelings in this matter by saying that the supplies of army to Islamabad after March 25 were due to – “bureaucratic bungling.” He thereby only annoyed New Delhi further for it was no
Moscow supports India’s stand
secret that Washington was bent on continuing to supply arms to Islamabad.
The proposal to post UN observers in both India and Pakistan supposedly to facilitate return of refugees to Bangladeshis another issue that has caused a deterioration of Indo-US relations.
The UN General Secretary’s suggestion for a meeting of the Security Council to discuss what he called the threat of war in this sub-continent was another point of friction between India and the USA.
New Delhi does not appear to have any doubt that Washington’s inspiration worked behind the moves for observers and a meeting of the Security Council. Moscow, on the other hand, opposed both moves, supporting India’s contention that these were attempts to equate India and Pakistan although what had been happening was the consequence of Islamabad’s brutal military action to suppress the aspirations of the Bangladesh people.
India has taken careful note of foreign newspaper reports that 153 UN observers would be posted in Bangladesh. What has not escaped India’s notice is that as many as 86 of them would be “communication experts of various types.”
The observer issue was not discussed at any UN forum, and India is in the dark about how these 153 observers have come to be chosen. They are reported to be from five or six countries.
If Gen. Yahya Khan is threatening India with war, he, in New Delhi’s view, has been emboldened by the uninterrupted supplies of arms to Islamabad by the USA which has, in fact, built up the military machine of Pakistan. Islamabad is waging a “war” in Bangladesh. In this war US arms are also being used against the people of Bangladesh.
India, the official spokesman said, was not going to be cowed down or fooled by anybody, not even by the support powerful nations may be giving to Islamabad.
The spokesman discounted any possibility of Mr. Gromyko trying to prepare the ground for a second Tashkent. The Soviet Union was not equating India with Pakistan on the situation arising out of the Bangladesh struggle for freedom. Mr. Gromyko had decided to come to India “for peace” and to ensure that Gen. Yahya Khan did not utter threats of war.
The subjects to be discussed by Mr. Gromyko with Indian leaders include the Bangladesh developments, the economic and social problems created for India by the influx of refugees, the thaw in Sino-US relations, the support given to Islamabad by the USA and China, and the various moves in the UN or its specialised agency for refugees, headed by the pro-Pakistani Prince Sadruddin.
Our London Office adds: Diplomatic circles in London are buzzing with the thought that recognition of Bangladesh is in the offing. Great importance is being attached to the Soviet Foreign Minister, Mr. Gromyko’s visit to Delhi and the announcement of recognition is expected soon after his visit.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 08.08.1971