Secret Telegram

November 22, 1971

From: Christopher Van Hollen

          Deputy Assistant Secretary of State

          Washington DC

To: Amembassy Islamabad

       Amembassy New Delhi

 

Subject: Reports of Heavy Fighting in East Pakistan

 

1. Reuters' November 22 report from New Delhi citing PTI states that Mukti Bahini forces have launched major offensive in Kushtia, Khulna and Jessore districts. According these reports Mukti Bahini have captured Chougacha in Jessore district and Maheshpur in same district. Debhata, border town in Khulna district, also said to have been taken with Mukti Bahini forces advancing to Satkhira, northeast of Debhata. In Kushtia district Mukti Bahini also reported as moving toward towns of Jibannagar and Damurhuda under cover their own artillery, having established "liberated areas" near border towns of Banpur and Gede.

 

2. FBIS carries following Karachi domestic service report in Eng­lish at 1500 GMT, November 22: "India, without a formal declara­tion of war, has launched an all-out offensive against East Pakistan." Broadcast adds that Indian army has concentrated all its might in Jes­sore area where attack has been launched by nine Indian infantry di­visions, four Indian mountain divisions and two Indian tank regi­ments. Fierce fighting, according same Karachi report, continued throughout night and early hours of morning with Indians using tanks and MIGs. Additional Indian attacks said to have taken place in Sylhet district and Chittagong Hill Tracts.

 

3. Request immediate information from addressee posts re these re­ports as well as posts' assessment their implications.

 

4. New Delhi domestic service broadcast 1530 GMT, November 22, just received in which GOI official spokesman reportedly cate­gorically denied Pakistan radio report that India had launched a big offensive in Jessore area. Spokesman referred to reports of increasing Mukti Bahini activities and said that Karachi radio report obviously mixing up Mukti Bahini activities with those of India.

 

 

 

Source: Bangladesh Liberation War and the Nixon House 1971, Enayetur Rahim and Joyce L. Rahim, Pustaka Dhaka, p – 396 - 397