THE GUARDIAN, LONDON, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1971
DACCA COUNTS THE HOURS TO DESTRUCTION
From Lee Lesscaze, Dacca
Dacca is a city awaiting destruction. No one knows how much damage the city will sustain when the Indian Army opens its attack here but Pakistani commanders arc determined to fight as long as they can from their camp on the outskirts and from positions in public buildings.
Lieutenant-General A. A. K. Niazi told reporters that any destruction in Dacca would be die price of freedom. In a brief interview in Dacca the senior commander here pledged again that his troops would fight to the last man. As the general spoke a small crowed of non-Bengali civilians gathered around him and began shouting “Long live Pakistan” and “Crush India.” They were some of the Dacca residents enjoying a six-hour break in the curfew that permitted movement in the streets.
The scene here is strangely peaceful in spite of the approach of Indian forces. Many- residents have left Dacca for the safety of rural villages but there are few sounds of war to remind those who remain of the battle to come. Anti-aircraft gunners opened fire briefly but observers could see no plane in the bright blue sky. Artillery sounds are still very distant.
At the Hotel Intercontinental some journalists sunbathed by the swimming pool, while a pool attendant fished prices of shrapnel from the water with a magnet. The reporters took turns guarding the hotel gale, seeking to prevent armed men entering the building which is now a Red Cross neutral zone and thereby is required to contain no weapons.
Pakistani citizens living in the hotel, all of them from West Pakistan pass their time watching television in the lobby and playing an occasional game of table tennis. The morning news paper claimed the Indian advance had been halted.
Accurate information about the war is almost impossible to obtain. Inspite of trips around the city and towns nearly no one has seen the Indian Army. No one saw the reported Indian paratroop drops at two locations fewer than 15 miles from Dacca, and no one can predict when the Indian attack here will begin.
Senior Pakistani officials have said they expect the battle for Dacca before Tuesday evening, but their prediction like all others is made without knowing the Indian commanders’ intentions.
Diplomats and journalists spend hours puzzling over how the Indian paratroop battalions dropped near Dacca arc being supplied, and how they are going to link up with other Indian units. Rumors of new Indian troops drops are frequent, but unconfirmed.
Another popular topic for debate is whether the upper or lower floors of the 11storey hotel are safer. The power are preferred should the Indians begins bombing, while the upher are better protection against stray rural arms fire from any street battle and afford a better view.
Minutes after the ceasefire that enabled some 400 foreigners to esacuate Dacca in RAF Hereules transports yesterday, one Indian plane bombed Dacca airport, presumably trying to close the runway for good. But there have been no further bombing missions against Dacca. Instead this had been perhaps the most peaceful day here since the was began on December 4.
About 40 United Nations staff members have stayed in Dacca, hoping that they can be useful in distributing relief aid when the war ends. There was some talk of organizing a soccer match between the United Nations and the journalists, but that is one of the few games yet to materialize. It floundered over problems of transportation which is scarce, and because the curfew will soon be reemployed during the nightly blackouts Hotel residents gather for chess and poker games by candlelight and share battles of liquor on hand. There is nothing else to do in Dacca but find ways to pass the time until the battle starts.
– Washington post.