Department of State
TELEGRAM
CONFIDENTIAL 631
ISLAMA 09107 071014Z
10
ACTION NEA-11
INFO :
OCT-01 EUR-14 10-11 CIAE-00 DODE-00 PM-06 H-02 INR-06 L-03 NSAE-
00
NSC-10 P-03 RSC-01 PRS-01 SS-14 USIA-12 RSR-01 / 096 W
101193
R 070840Z SEP 71
FM AMEMBASSY
SUBJ : PAK
ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF ON MILITARY SITUATION IN EAST
REF :
1. In cource of "Defence of Pakistan Day"
reception hosted by Army Chief of Staff, Gen. Hamid, DCM asked him whether his
estimate of situation had changed during past month (reftels). Hamid indicated
his estimate remained basically the same: situation remained troublesome and
contained risk of escalation, but he had not yet seen evidence that GOI
intended war.
2. Hamid said he hoped that expanded amnesty effective
Sept. 5 would encourage further return to normalcy. As matter of fact, he was encouraged
by recent signs that East Pak population were beginning to consider Pak army
presence as adding to their security, rather than reverse which he admitted had
been case in earlier months of current crisis. Hamid alluded to several recent
instances where local population had cooperated actively with army to frustrate
Mukti Bahini plans. According Hamid, Mukti Bahini actions continue to occupy
Pak army attention although they are less troublesome than Mukti Bahini, Bangla
Desh and Indian propaganda would have people believe. In this regard, Hamid
welcomed appointment of civilian governor which would allow army to devote
itself to proper military function in
3. DCM referred to recent briefing of foreign
military attaches by inter-services intelligence directorate, which left
impression that GOP expected Indians might take
Source: The American Papers - Secret and Confidential
Limited, p. 663-664