BHUTTO WILLING TO NEGOTIATE IF INDIA WITHDRAWS TROOPS
Rawalpindi, Dec. 21 (AP)
Pakistan’s new President, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, said on his first day in office Monday he wanted to bring back East Pakistan into this defeated nation, but insisted he needed time before he could deal with jailed Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, leader of the outlawed Awami League, the East’s dominant political party.
“Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is not a popular man in West Pakistan”, Bhutto, 44, told a news conference after an hour-long broadcast in which he repeatedly appealed to Pakistanis to “give me a little time”.
He also said he wanted to be in good terms with India, but insisted Indians must quit Pakistan before he would negotiate with them on what he called “honorable and equitable terms”.
Bhutto told newsman resigning military President Gen Yahya Khan was still in Pakistan and was not under house arrest.
He said the question of taking action against Yahya- as demanded in rising crescendo of protest since he agreed Friday to a ceasefire with India- was “premeture”.
In his speech, Bhutto said Yahya was retiring along with six other senior generalsarmy chief of steff Gen. Abdul Hamid Khan; Lt. Gen. S.G.M.M. Pirzada, the exPresident’s principal staff officer and virtual military Prime Minister. Maj. Gen. Ghulam Omar, secretary of the national security council and coordinator, for intelligence with direct access to the President; Maj. Gen. Khuda Dad, adjutantgeneral who was author of the martial law regulations first put into operation under deposed Field Marshal Mohammed Ayub Khan in 1958; Maj. Gen. A.O. Mitha, quarter master-general, and Maj. Gen. M. Kiani, chief of artillery.
Bhutto who appeared for the news conference in a blue double-breasted suit with red stripes and yellow shirt with a badly-knotted red and blue striped tie, went from a concilatory mood to truculence in his speech and news conference.
He said he wanted … “settlement with India, but only on honourable and equitable terms”.
He said such terms would include withdrawal of Indians from East Pakistan and a settlement of the Kashmir dispute which atready had provoked three wars between the neighbors in 25 year.
He also promised “revenge” if India followed a path of revenge.
He called for Pakistanis to bring back money they have sent abroad because “the armed forces need weapon, they need tanks”.
Reference : Indonesian Observer, 22.12.1971