Secret Telegram

November 1, 1971

From: Secretary State Washington DC

To: American Embassy Islamabad

 

Subject: India-Pak Confrontation: Ambassador's Talk with President Yahya, November 3, 9:00 AM

 

 

During informal conversation October 31 between Ambassador Keating and Indian Ambassador Jha, following idea emerged: (a) one possible route to BD-GOP negotiations below level of Mujib might be for President Yahya to agree to permit Mujib to designate BD leader to open discussions with GOP; b) if this idea were to have BD

and GOI support, designee would have to come from among BD leaders now in India and would have to be granted secure passage to and from Pakistan for discussion with Mujib; c) this idea, if work­able, could have merit of possibly short-circuiting BD and GOI in­sistence on Mujib as only negotiator and involving Mujib indirectly in negotiations in manner that might be acceptable to Yahya.

 

This idea passed to you as background for your talk with Yahya on political aspects East Pakistan situation. If mentioned, it should be put forward entirely as a part of canvass of options open to Yahya and not repeat not as a US proposal. We are trying to be as respon­sive as possible to Yahya's increasingly plaintive pleas for us to give him ideas. (Islamabad 10802).

 

 

 

Source: Bangladesh Liberation War and the Nixon House 1971, Enayetur Rahim and Joyce L. Rahim, Pustaka Dhaka, p – 297-298.