Secret Telegram
November
22, 1971
From: Secretary State Washington DC
To: American Ambassador New Delhi
Subject: Indo-Pakistan Military Escalation
1. We are increasingly concerned at military actions
and intensive exchanges of fire along Indo-East Pakistan border. Pattern these
incidents beginning with Kamalpur and Belonia in East and Shikarpur in West
has now reached critical stage in reported Mukti Bahini and possibly Indian
offensive against variety of points in Jessore area. There is evident danger of
further escalation.
2. You should seek earliest appointment with Foreign
Minister Swaran Singh to express on behalf of USG our grave concern at recent
military engagement along East Pakistan border. These represent
serious danger to peace in South Asia. It is our expectation that
India will avoid actions which are likely to lead
to war. You should say that as the President told the Prime Minister in
Washington, any Indian decision to
have recourse to war would not be understood by the USG. We are also urging Pakistan to avoid actions which
could lead to war.
3. You should note that President Nixon was
particularly gratified at Mrs. Gandhi's expression of her desire for peace and
her assurance that India would not initiate
hostilities. Moreover, you should tell PM that in her discussions here we took
four concrete steps to try to meet the situation: a) we dried up the military
pipeline to remove this as an irritant to Indian-American relations; b) we
indicated continuing material support for the refugee program; c) we conveyed
Yahya's willingness to take the first step in withdrawals provided this step
reciprocated on the other side; and d) we discussed certain ideas designed to
try to get the process of political accommodations started. We have not had a concrete
reaction from the Indian government with respect to c) and d) above. Above all,
time should be allowed to give these ideas an opportunity to work.
Source: Bangladesh Liberation War and the Nixon House 1971, Enayetur
Rahim and Joyce L. Rahim, Pustaka Dhaka, p – 395 - 396