The Complex Problem of East Pakistan
THE PROBLEM of East Pakistan has turned out to be much more complex than the military government of General Yahya Khan had expected it to be. The invasion of the eastern province and the mass killing of the East Pakistanis, which General Yahya Khan had expected to be able to put down the aspirations of the people to obtain a greater degree of autonomy, has resulted in the opposite. The people’s resistance continues and, as far as certain are concerned, even grows stronger. As a result, the sentiment which used to be merely local patriotism has developed into a new nationalism. The East Pakistanis no longer wish to be referred to as Pakistanis, but prefer to be called the Bengalis, because Pakistanis to them now are troops who kill their people without mercy. The proclamation of the new nation- Bangla Desh- and the formation of its provisional government, as reported in yesterday’s issue of this paper, must have been motivated by the growth of the new nationalism. Even if General Yahya Khan’s troops finally succeed in controling the situation, the desire to take revenge will probably never submit itself. Thus, whatever happens, the Pakistanis can never be the same as before- the Bengalis and the Punjabis and other smaller ethnic groups in the West will continue to be at feud with each other.
That was the internal side of the picture. Internationally, it is even worse. The sour relations of long standing between India and Pakistan are the first to be affected. Involved in this is the factor of Communist China, bosom friend of Islamic Pakistan. Also at stake are the relations between Pakistan and the Soviet Union and those between and the United States.
India, immediate neighbor to both wings of Pakistan, was the frist to react against the massacre in East Pakistan. A resolution passed unanimously in both House of Indian Parliament on March 31, demanded “Immediate cessation of the use of force and the massacre of defenceless people” by the Pakistani Government. On the same day, India’s Note Verbale presented to UN Secretary General U Thant on the prievious day which said that the international community “can and should take suitable action”, was circulated to U.N. members. On April 4, India’s Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi told the All India Congress Commitee session that India would not remain silent over injustice and oppression taking place in East Bengal, but added that India had no desire to interfere in the internal affairs of other countries, however, accused India of interfering in its internal affairs. As a result, series of charges and counter charges have been leveled against each other from Islamabad and New Delhi. Last sunday Pakistan claimed that two companies of Indian border forces had been wiped out inside East Pakistan apparently with the intention to prove its charge that India had infiltrated its troops into East Pakistan to fight against the Pakistan Army. India denied the charge baseless false and mischievous and charged that three of its border guards were kidnapped by Pakistani troops. Taking the growing tension into account, one may think it likely that another round of clashes will flare up again in the IndoPakistan subcontinent.
The coming on the scene of Communist China, by issuing a strong warning that China will firmly support Pakistan should India launch an aggression on it, makes the problem more complicated. India might not be interested in launching an aggression on Pakistan, despite the popular demand that India send troops to East Pakistan, but the unexpected could happen any time in one way or the other. For China, the trouble in the sub-continent is a good chance, because it would help expand its role in that part of the world. Pakistan might not realize it, but should there be another war with India with China playing a role, it would see the growing dependence of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan on Communist China. Under the circumstances, only Zulfikar Ali Bhutto will keep smiling.
With the Soviet Union having urged President Yahya Khan to stop bloodsheds in East Pakistan and the United States having reviewd its policy of arms sales to Pakistan, Pakistan can no longer boast of being the only country in the world which maintains equally sweet relations with Washington, Moscow and Peking. On the contrary, its policy of genocide would sooner or later make it lose its friends and might invite outsiders to burn its own house to the ground.
But things have gone too far. The notorious tragedy is now a historical fact. General Yahya Khan will never retreat, but will go onward….
What is happening in East Pakistan may be rational to the military government of President Yahya Khan, but if East pakistan ultimately becomes a sovereign state, which the world knows as bound to be will the present crisis not be a concern to other muslim states? Muslim states should act quickly and see that good Muslims are not masscared by fellow Muslims The International Islamic Organization should also not be silent spectators in the present situation in East Pakistan but should do whatever is possible within the limited means to stop the genocide and restore peace in the region. From a reader who asked to have his name withheld.
ref. The Djakarta Times, 15.4.1971