POSSIBILITY OF WAR BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN
By rejecting the verdict of the people, President Yahya Khan has given proff of his political short-sightedness which will ultimately lead to the disintegration of Pakistan. He is prepared even to face this situation in order to foster his egoism and interests. The civil war continues in Pakistan. More people have been killed there than in Biafra. Pakistan’s economy is tottering. Even the military leadership is divided.
Pakistani troops are being concentrated in the border areas with India. A ‘Crush India campaign has been launched in Karachi. It appears that President Yahya Khan is seeking to divert the attention of his people from the internal crisis by launching a war with India. India is naturally interested in Pakistan’s crisis because the influx of more than nine million refugees constitutes a tremendous burden on its economy. But the rulers of Pakistan are interpreting this interest as interference in their country’s internal affairs and preparing for a war with India.
A dangerous situation will be created for the whole of Asia if there is another war between India and Pakistan. In that event, not only East Bengal but Pakistan’s other provinces too will separate from it. The rulers of Pakistan should not commit further mistakes in order to conceal one.
(Editorial, Naya Sandesh, Kathmandu-October 22, 1971)
Source : Bangladesh Documents. Voll II, P. 134