Bowles calls arms aid to Pindi immoral
WASHINGTON, Aug. 16.-Mr. Chester Bowles, former UnderSecretary of State and Ambassador to India, yesterday termed continued American Military aid to Pakistan “irresponsible and immoral” and suggested that the USA correct its “mistakes” by persuading President Yahya Khan to enter in direct negotiations with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, reports AFP.
In a article entitled “US Arms to Pakistan : A tragedy of Errors”, published by the Washington Post, the former diplomat stated that “a series of miscalculations by the US Government within the last 20 years has contributed significantly to the explosive situation in South Asia.”
Mr. Bowles said that the 1954 decision to modernize and extend Pakistan’s armed forces “in return for vague assurances that Pakistan become our loyal ally” was the first of the series of “blunders” in that area. He ascribed those blumeders to the fact that the USA had “downgraded and largely ignored political, economic and social factors in favour, of military considerations.”
Referring to the conflict in East Bengal, Mr. Bowles noted that Britain had outspokenly condemned Pakistan for the genocide. By refusing to halt military shipments to Pakistan the USA, he said, “has seen its stock drop to an all-time low in India.”
Mr. Bowles recommended that the US “correct its past mistakes” by taking of encouraging the following steps.
Direct negotiations between President Yahya Khan and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, cut off all military sales and join with the World Bank and the consortium Powers in withholding economic assistance to Pakistan to call, jointly with the USSR for a Security Council session and propose “a positive course of action to forestall a conflict that no one can win”, and lead an international effort to release India of the massive burden of financing the refugee relief.
The former Prime Minister of Guyana, Mr. Cheddi Jagan said in New Delhi yesterday that his People’s Progressive Party would press the Guyana Government to recognise the Bangladesh Government.
Jagan, who was on his way to Calcutta to study the refugee problem, had already met some Bangladesh Leaders.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 17.08.1971