CHINA SUPPLIES ADDITIONAL ARMS TO PAKISTAN
Shukla
India Denies Charge
NEWDELHI, Minister of State for Defence Production V.O. Shukla said here Monday that China had been supplying additional arms to Pakistan since the outbreak of the East Pakistan crisis.
Speaking in the Lower house of parliament in reply to as opposition question, he also said that Chinese Prime Minister Chou En-Lai had assured Pakistani President Yahya Khan that China would always give “full support” to Pakistan if India “Commits agression” against it.
The minister said Washington and Mascow knew that China was giving arms to Pakistan and were also aware of China’s role in the current situation.
He added that India was doing its utmost to see that all communist countries were kept fully informed of the situtation.
In the Upper House, meanwhile, a number of oppositions members walked out in protest at the governments refusal to give complete details of the alleged Pakistani spies operating in West Bengal.
Press reports had said that at least six prominent Indians including a former M.P. and former state minister, were involved in passing ‘confidential files” to Pakistans agents.
During an hour long discussions, minister of state for Home Affairs R.N. Mindha says that West Bengal police were investigating the matter.
Diplomatic Offensive
According to authoritative sources, Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh will leave here next week to impress on Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States and Frances ‘the grave situation” in the sub-continent arising from the East Pakistan refugee problem.
Singh will have discussions with high ranking officials of the four countries during a two-week tour. He will voice the Indian Government’s concern over increasing foreign aid to Pakistan, India felt would only strengthen Pakistan’s hand in its “milltary repression” of the East Pakistani people.
Denial
Meanwhile Reuter reported that Indian External Affairs Minister Swaran Singh denied Monday that India had extended social facilities to Soviet naval ships at the East Coast port and naval base of Visakhapatnam.
He told a questioner in the Lower House of partiament here that India extended some facilities to naval vessels of all friendly countries including the Soviet Union, at India ports, including Visakhapatnam.
Swaran Singh said it was true that Soviet ships patrolled the Indian Occen, but so did naval ships of other countries.
It was in accordance with the well-recognised principle of the freedom of the high seas and there is very little that can be done he added. AFP.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 02.06.1971