Department of State

 

TELEGRAM

 

SECRET 444

 

ISLAMA 12414 120907 Z

11

ACTION SS-25

INFO OCT-01 SSO-00 CCO-00 NSCE-00 /026 W           

                                         ……………..047053

O 120825 Z DEC 71

FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD

TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2045 INFO AMCONSUL DACCA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE

USMISSION USUN IMMEDIATE SECRET ISLAMABAD 12414

EXDIS

SUBJ : MEETING WITH PRES. YAHYA DECEMBER 12

REF : STATE 222703: STATE 223266

 

l. I met with Pres. Yahya Khan in his residence at 1030 hrs. local December 12. The Foreign Secretary, Sultan Khan, was present during the entire meeting. The President appeared tired and somewhat strained, but exhibited more morale than I would have anticipated.

 

2. The conversation began with a general discussion of the military situation in both East and West Pakistan. The President said that Pakistani troops had been forced back toward and into Dacca, where, unless a ceasefire was agreed upon, they would have to stage a last-ditch defense. In West Pakistan, he said, the general situation was static, although they had experienced several limited successes in Kashmir. He added that the Air Force continued to qte serve magnificently unqte.

 

3. Moving to the subject of a ceasefire, I then referred to State reftel 22326 (also reported Islamabad 12355), and asked Yahya if he could give me an explanation why General Farman Ali's ceasefire offer had been replaced by less comprehensive offer from Governor Malik.

 

 

 

Source:  The American Papers – Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh Documents 1965-1973, University Press Limited, p.741