Russia warns Pakistan
MOSCOW, Nov. 26—The Soviet Union has made a new urgent appeal to Pakistan to desist from escalating the situation in the Indian subcontinent, informed sources said yesterday, according to agencies.
It has warned Pakistan against disastrous consequences should that country persist in its present war-like course in total disregard of international counsel for peaceful political means of resolving its problems.
The Soviet action follows the latest Pakistani attempt to involve India in East Bengal troubles through unfounded allegations of Indian aggression.
The Soviet note delivered to Pakistan demands the Pakistani Military regime to come to political terms with with the parties agitating for East Bengal’s independence, informed Foreign Office sources said in Rawalpindi yesterday.
“The Russians are putting on pressure,” said a source, “but it is the same old line”.
The Soviet Ambassador, Mr. A. Rodionov, met President Yahya Khan after the declaration of a national emergency.
While the Soviet Union is bound to welcome other governments wanting to use their leverage with Rawalpindi to improve the situation in the sub-continent, it feels a special responsibility arising partly from its traditional interest in the area bordering it on the south as manifest in the Tashkent Conference of 1966 and partly from its close relationship with India.
A report from Rome adds: The Pakistani Ambassador here, Mr. Hamid Havaz Khan has said that Pakistan would welcome any international initiative “to resolve the conflict with India”, including one by the Soviet Union.
Meanwhile the USA is considering whether to ask the Security Council to intervene in the India- Pakistan crisis, or to support such a move by another government, the White House said yesterday.
The Presidential Press Secretary, Mr. Ziegler, said the USA was considering this possibility, although it had not reached a decision and wanted more time to study developments in the crisis.
Mr. Ziegler disclosed. The President in a, 30-minute talk with Mr. Heath yesterday, emphasised that the American people would not approve the use of force by countries who should devote their enerkies to solving urgent domestic problems.
The U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Mr. William Solomon, has discounted the possibility of intervention by Moscow or Peking in the event of a war on the Indian sub-continent.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 27.11.1971