Department of State

SECRET

DIRECTOR OF/INTELLIGENCE AND RESEARCH

INTELLIGENCE NOTE

7 August 1968

TO : The Secretary

THROUGH : S/S

FROM : INR - Thomas L. Hughes

SUBJECT : Trial of Alleged Conspirators in East Pakistan Tarnishing Government Image

The Government of Pakistan's inept handling of the "Agartala Conspiracy Case" is fanning resentment among East Pakistanis. Far from discrediting the popular East Pakistani leader, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the trial currently underway appears likely to enhance his political potential as a martyr for East Pakistani rights. The most damaging aspect so far for the Government of the trial of Rahman and some 35 others accused of plotting to establish a separatist regime in East Pakistan has been the testimony of a prosecution witness who broke down in court and asserted that he had been tortured and threatened with death by military officials who wished him to testify falsely against the alleged conspirators.

Government Charges Separatist Conspiracy and Implicates India But Not US.

One Government witness has made several references to attempts by the conspirator to obtain aid from the United States. The published testimony, however, contains no suggestion that the United States assisted the plotters in anyway. The Pakistani Government was at first suspicious of possible American involvement, but apparently became convinced after thorough investigation that there were no grounds for such suspicions.

Source: The American Papers- Secret and Confidential India.Pakistan.Bangladesh Documents 1965-1973, The University Press Limited, p.253