Defections in London HC of Pakistan likely
From Our London Office, JULY 10. – More defections from Pakistan to the Bangladesh movement-soon front among quite high-up persons – are expected after what happened in Paris Last Wednesday.
These defections may not be a body blow to the Yahya regime but they will certainly upset its international and political calculations. They strengthen the deepening convictions of the world that Pakistan is a land of terror and that without a political settlement there will be no end to unrest and civil commotion in West Pakistan and East Bengal and of international tension in the Near East and South East Asia.
Many European countries including Britain are now anxious to secure some settlement over the current Pakistani crisis after these defections.
Though the names and status of would-be defectors can not be disclosed for obvious reasons, the most significant one is likely to have some repercussions both in West Pakistan and East Bengal. The would-be defectors in London may have come out earlier but for tactical reasons they were asked by the Bangladesh movement people to hold on to their positions until the opportune moment came.
Agents of Yahya Khan are now in Paris and London. They are understood to be greatly depressed by the growing support in the west for the Bangladesh movement. They have not come out openly from their places of hiding, those who have been in touch with them would not be surprised if the defector or defectors come from them. But even if some of them do defect, they would have difficulty to be taken in by the Bangladesh movement as the feeling against them is quite bitter.
Reports of the Parliamentary delegation given verbally to Sir Alec DouglusHome and to party leaders- Mr. Heath and Mr. Wilson-have corroborated what were published in the Indian Press and were dismissed by the pro-Pakistani elements inside the Tory and Labour parties. The parliamentary delegation’s reports are being seriously considered. It is understood that the reports suggested that Yahya Khan himself is not responsible for what happened and is happening in Bangladesh. But these reports did not deny that the military Junta is in firm control of the situation in East Bengal and West Pakistan though the freedom fighters are not giving the armed forces any respite in East Bengal.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 11.07.1971