Pindi very close to war: Yahya
MOSCOW, AUG. 1—The Soviet official news agency, Tass, today conveyed in effect that President Yahya Khan of Pakistan was spoiling for fight against India, ways P.T.I
In a Paris report quoting a French agency Tass said that four Pakistan divisions were deployed near the East Pakistan Indian Border.
President Yahya Khan was also quoted as saying in an interview to foreign television companies that Pakistan was very close to war against India.
To cover up his own Army’s provocations along the East Bengal border, the Pakistan President has charged India with “aggression” during a television interview in Karachi with the BBC.
According to a BBC broadcast this morning, the President also defended his Army’s action against “rebels in East Pakistan” and denied that civilians had been killed unnecessarily.
AFP adds from Karachi The former Pakistan Foreign Minister, Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, leader of the Pakistan People’s Party, said today that war with India could possibly break out soon.
He said however, that although the situation was tense, he believed that other countries would intervene if war were to break out.
Tass followed its dispatch up with a report from Delhi quoting Indian Press to give further details for war preparations on the Pakistani side of eastern border.
These included evacuation of civilian population from certain districts bordering India in eastern sector and setting up of military camps there, movement of tanks and mechanized units of advanced positions in direct proximity to West Bengal, Assam and Meghalya States with highest concentration of troops in north-eastern sector bordering West Bengal and growth of the number of armed incidents along these borders.
Tass report made a departure from practice here hither to of forcedly balancing reports from Delhi with something in attenuation from Islamabad.
Observers took this as a clear indication of Soviet conviction about the blameless Indian behaviors in the face of provocation an about threat to peace nevertheless arising from the Pakistani side.
Meanwhile, the Indian Defence Minister, Mr. Jagjivan Ram, said in Delhi, today that President Yahya Khan’s recent threat of war and other pronouncements were a true barometer indicating the successes of Mukti Bahini in Bangladesh.
The Defence Minister was speaking at a symposium on Bangladesh organized by the Indian forum of Youth. Mr. I. K. Gujral, Union Minister of State for Housing presided.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 2.8.1971