Hopes of political solution to Bangla issue seem dashed
From our Political Correspondent, NEW DELHI Dec. 1.-Hopes of a political settlement in Bangladesh under Western pressure on General Yahya Khan entertained for several months by the Government of India now seem to have completely disappeared.
Mr. Nixon’s letter, which was delivered to Mrs. Gandhi, by the American Ambassador, Mr. Keating, on Monday morning, has according to New Delhi, not improved but worsened whatever chances there were of the Pakistani President coming to terms with the Awami League, because it will strengthen Islamabad’s intransigence.
The Prime Minister has not yet formally replied to Mr. Nixon, but in her talks with Mr. Keating and in her statement on the Bangladesh problem in the Rajya Sabha yesterday, she did not keep the Americans in doubt about what her reaction to the letter is. Her reply, whenever it comes. Will be couched in polite terms but will convey firmly her rejection of his suggestion.
What has annoyed New Delhi in no small measure is the indirect threat of stoppage of economic aid. But Mrs. Gandhi is not a person to be browbeaten by threats of this kind, no matter from whatever quarters they come.
It any possibility of a political settlement was left. Mrs. Gandhi would not have spoken publicly of liberation as being the only way out in Bangladesh.
The move by General Yahya Khan to have U.N. observers posted on the Pakistani side of the border is considered by New Delhi a new strategem, again possibly inspired by Washington, to involve the U.N. in Bangladesh.
The External Affairs Ministry’s spokesman declined to give the governments reaction to their move. But New Delhi seems to be convinced that no agreement will be reached in the Security Council to enable it to post observers as suggested by the Pakistani President.
In the past, a proposal, initiated by some Western countries, was made to post U.N. observers on both sides of the Indo-Pakistani border. This fell through because India declined to accept any foreign observer on her soil.
The spokesman described General Yahya Khan’s new move as “a variation of the earlier proposal. It is not clear whose decision it will be to send observers. Under the U.N. Charter, such a decision can be taken only by the Security Council. We do not know who will constitute the team of observers and who will finance it.”
Referring to the U.S.-sponsored move in June to send a team of communications experts for Bangladesh ostensibly to help in relief operations, the spokesman said the team never came.
“At that time”, he explained, “the elected leadership of Bangladesh and the freedom fighters pointed out that in the conditions that prevailed the lives of the experts may not be without danger. Regarding the new move, I do not think the attitude of the Awami League, the Mukti Bahini and the people of Bangladesh has changed.
“India was asked to guarantee the safety of foreign personnel in Bangladesh, but India not being responsible for anything there, could not meet their request. The position is not different today. The Government of Indian cannot stop the Mukti Bahini’s activities. The people of Bangladesh have suffered medieval barbarities at the hands of the West Pakistani troops. They have become fierce and determined. Millions of them are in refugee camps in India, we are not to tell them what they should or should not do.”
If U Thant, Secretary-General of the U.N., responds to General Yahya Khan’s move and calls a meeting of the Security Council, it is almost certain the Soviet Union will oppose it. The Soviet Union has assured India of full support in her policy towards Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, behind-the-scene negotiations are going on among certain powers in Lake Success. No consensus seems to have been reached so far. Unless a consensus is reached, It is not quite certain if Belgium will persist in her move to take the Indo-Pakistani tension to the Security Council.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 02.12.1971