Editorial : Bangladesh Now
With the occupation by Indian forces of East Pakistan, re-named Bangladesh, virtually complete, and with a dialogue under way between the military commanders in Dacca and New Delhi for a cease-fire, the first phase at least of the Indo-Pakistan war is clearly drawing to a close. It must be hoped that it will prove to be the end not only of a phase but of the war itself. For this, two things will be needed above all: rejection by India of any idea of taking the opportunity to. destroy the Pakistan State in toto. West as well as East; and renunciation by President Yahya of what is no doubt a strong temptation to persevere with attacks against India in Kashmir and the Punjab in the hope of securing, even at this late hour, sufficient gains for bargaining purposes.
The first of these contingencies that India might try to proceed to the complete destruction of Pakistan appears unlikely. There are certainly those in and around the Indian Government who have never accepted the division of the sub-continent; but there is not much to suggest that Mrs. Gandhi will meet their wishes, If by some gross misjudgment, of a kind she has so far shown little sign of making, she did try to, it would completely alter India’s standing in the affair. It would throw overboard in one swoop the very considerable sympathy and understanding there has been, in general would opinion for the origins and course of the war so far.
It would certainly involve the Great Powers more closely than hitherto and would probably bring catastrophic results in the end for India herself.
President Yahya’s problems are bitter. As a soldier, his instincts must suggest redoubling efforts to gain ground in the West. if only for the purpose of bargaining to secure the return of his troops in the East. It is to be hoped that he will take the wiser course of restraint. However the final end in Bengal now comes, the new State of Bangladesh is going to present India, and not only India, with immense problems, some of which are discussed in the article on this page. Only the Indian Army can restore law and order, avert the danger of communal massacres, and provide the background for a new political and economic structure. Russia, China and America will all be closely concerned. Britain has maintained good relations with both India and Pakistan. Help from London over the birth of Bangladesh, if offered unobtrusively might be welcome.
Reference: The Daily Telegraph, 16 December, 1971