STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS IN RAJYA SABHA ON JULY 21, 1971, REGARDING THE REPORTED THREAT OF THE PRESIDENT OF PAKISTAN TO DECLARE WAR ON INDIA AND THE
REACTION OF THE GOVERNMENT THERETO

 

President Yahya Khan is reported to have said that "if India made any attempt to seize any part of East Pakistan" he will declare war.

 

2. Pakistan has been trying for some time to mislead the world into thinking that the situation in Bangla Desh is a matter between Pakistan and India whereas in fact it is a matter between the military rulers of West Pakistan and the people of Bangla Desh. It is the Pakistan regime's own actions, and the brutalities committed by the Pakistan Army in Bangla Desh, that have landed Pakistan in a morass in Bangla Desh. Only a settlement with the already elected represen­tatives of the people of Bangla Desh Which will enable the military rulers of Pakistan to extricate themselves from this morass.

 

3. So long as Pakistan does not recognise this, the activities of the Bangla Desh freedom fighters will continue and increase. When the freedom lighters succeed in liberating territory in Bangla Desh and Pakistan uses it as a pretext for attacking us, then t must make it clear that we are ready to defend our­selves.

 

4. We have no desire "to seize any part or Pakistan". President Yahya Khan is either trying to mislead his people and the world at large or preparing them for an aggression against India by making such unwarranted and baseless statements.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Source: Bangladesh Documents, Vol – I, Page no – 711.