Secret telegram

4 September 1971

From: Amembassy Islamabad

To: Secretary State Washington DC

 

Subj: Contacts with Bangla Desh reps

 

1. At conclusion of conversation with Asst. Secretary Abshire Sept 4 (septel), I asked Pres. Yahya if I could stay behind with him for few moments. I then alluded to our conversation of some two weeks ago during which I had informed him of clandestine approach to one of our people in Calcutta by an MNA-elect by the name of Qaiyum. Yahya said he recalled that conversation very well. Stressing that we did not want to go any further than Yahya desired in our contacts with Bangla Desh reps, I said we thought it might be useful to at­tempt to verify Qaiyum's bona fides, and we thought best way to do that was through direct contact with Bangla Desh "Fonmin" Mosh­taque Ahmed who we understood was also in Calcutta. If latter veri­fied validity of Qaiyum's approaches to us, we would propose to tell him that substance of Qaiyum's talks with us had been passed to Ya­hya, who had shown interest in possible meeting between GOP reps and Bangla Desh reps.

 

2. Yahya said he was entirely agreeable to our proceeding as I had suggested. He reacted favorabTy to my mention of Moshtaque Ahmed, volunteering that he was one of the true moderates among Mujib's followers. Yahya recalled that, in March series of meetings held . with Mujib, Moshtaque Ahmed had on occasion voiced concern that some of Mujib's men were adopting too radical positions.

 

3. 1 told Yahya we would pass back to him any reaction received from Moshtaque Ahmed, particularly with regard to his willingness to meet with GOP rep. Yahya suggested such meeting might take place in East Pakistan. We commented that we understood Moshtaque Ahmed had been thinking of going to UK, and that might be y better site for meeting. Yahya raised no objection to that possibility.

 

4. I told Yahya that, since I would be out of town for few days, DCM would be available to convey to him any response received from Moshtaque Ahmed. Yahya said he would be ready to receive mes­sage at any time.

 

5. 1 believe Dept should now instruct Calcutta promptly to make           _­contact with Moshtaque Ahmed in accordance previous plan.

 

Farland

 

 

 

 

Source: Bangladesh Liberation War and the Nixon White House 1971, p.208-209