THE STATESMAN, JULY 8, 1971
INDIA DEMANDS TOTAL BAN ON U.S. ARMS AID TO PAKISTAN
From our Special Representative
New Delhi, July 7. – President Nixon’s special emissary and adviser on security affairs Dr. Henry Kissinger was told by Indian leaders here today of the grave situation created on the sub-continent by the continued supply of arms to Pakistan by the USA.
Both the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister are understood to have told him in the most emphatic terms that they did not accept the American interpretation that only non-lethal weapons were supplied or that it was the result of bureaucratic bungling.
Dr Kissinger was told in plain words that apart from its impact in the military sense. Dr. Kissinger apparently it was only marginal-the political implications of the decision far outweighed any other consideration.
Mr. Swaran Singh reportedly drew Dr Kissinger’s attention to the adverse effect of the “continued and continuous” arms aid to Pakistan, including the supply of socalled non-lethal weapons which could only be used to activate the most deadly engines of destruction. The arms aid to Pakistan he was told, posed a serious threat to the peace and the security of the sub-continent more so when it was viewed in the context of the $2 million U.S. arms aid received by Pakistan between 1954 and 1965.
In the context of the crisis in Bangladesh Dr. Kissinger was told it was not merely a legalistic stand that India was taking in the matter. There was the important question of human rights of 75 million people and to secure these it was essential in the present situation to put a total ban on U.S. arms supplies to Pakistan.
In the absence of any concrete indication from the American aide the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and the Defense Minister, told Dr. Kissinger that the plan outlined by General Yahya Khan in his broadcast on June 29 was wholly negative and could not be expected to form the basis of any political settlement in Bangladesh. Indeed, the elected representatives of East Bengal he was told had rejected the proposal.
It was in this context that the Indian leaders demanded that the world community including the USA, should stop all military and political aid to the West Pakistani regime without which they felt there was no hope of a settlement. If urgent steps were not taken to ensure the creation of conditions in which the 7 million refugees find it safe and honorable to return with credible guarantees given to them the situation would lead to “grave consequences.”
It was made clear to the top U.S. Presidential aid that India could not live with the refugee problem for long. And in the circumstances, he was told this country could not be expected to wait indefinitely for a solution. It was the international community’s duty to create conditions which would compel Pakistan to seek a just political solution.
While the American side Dr. Kissinger was assisted at the talks by the U.S. ambassador, Mr. Kenneth B Keating-appeared committed to seeking a political solution, it was not at all willing to even broadly indicate the framework of such a solution. Indeed Dr. Kissinger held out no assurance of any kind. He would convey the Indian viewpoint to the President he is reported to have said.
Informed sources here were hopeful that Dr. Kissinger’s talks would enable him to have a comprehensive understanding of the Indian position. It was well-known that he was carrying no set of proposals-although he did deliver personal letter from President Nixon to Mrs. Gandhi-but by implication he did not consider the scheme, outlined by Gen. Yahya Khan in his broadcast as a dependable line of action. This was evident from his reluctance to refer to it.