India Awaits pressure on Yahya
By David Loshak in New Delhi
The Indian Cabinet, meeting after the return of Mrs Gandhi, the Prime Minister, from her Western tour, decided yesterday on a “wait and see policy“ on the Indo-Pakistan crisis.
Mrs Gandhi is understood to have been optimistic that Western leaders would now put more pressure on the Pakistan government over the East Bengal problem.
She stressed that India must allow them time to Induce President Yahaya Khan to find a political solution.
There will be strong pressure on Mrs Gandhi when the Indian Parliament reconvenes today to give formal recognition to BanglaDesh (independent East Pakistan), an act which would be tantamount to declaring war against Pakistan.
But the Prime Minister is politically strong enough to hold off such demands, although they will be of use to her in demonstrating to the outside world that she has strong domestic pressures to contend with.
“Missed the Boať
Despite the military build-up on the borders, the Indian Government is not alarmed by the situation and is not thinking in terms of an all-out war with Pakistan.
The Government believes that Pakistan’s leaders, if they ever wanted a war, have now “missed the boat and fully realized this. India is militarily stronger and Pakistan’s economic condition is thought to be too weak to sustain a major conflict.
With the possibility that President Yahya will hand over to civilian Government within two months, India is prepared to a wait developments.
Meanwhile, she will continue to give aid and sanctuary to the anti-Government guerrillas in East Pakistan, who are gaining strength daily. Their activities are pinning down nearly four divisions of the Pakistan Army.
Mr. Ram, Indian Defense Minister, said concentration of the Pakistani Army on India’s borders might lead to “a great configuration at any moment.” Soviet leaders had visited India for mutual consultations on the “grim situation.”
Chou sends cable Chou En-lai, the Chinese Prime Minister, has sent a cable to Mrs Gandhi, his Indian counterpart, expressing the hope that friendship between the peoples of China and India will“grow and develop daily,” It was disclosed yesterday.
Reference: The Daily Telegraph, 15 November, 1971