Confidential Telegram
From: Secretary State Washington DC
To: American Embassy Islamabad
Subject: Letter from President Yahya
Following is text of letter to President from
President Yahya delivered by Pakistani Charge and Ambassador designate during
call on
Dr. Kissinger on November 3(copy aide-memoire on
Indo-Pak problems delivered at same time is being pouched):
Dear Mr. President:
In calling Major-General N.A.M. Raza, a veteran
soldier as well as an experienced diplomat, back to duty from retirement. I
have I think selected a most suitable envoy for Washington. His appointment
further emphasizes the paramount importance I attach to our relations with your
great country. Apart from his distinguished services as our Ambassador in
Tehran, Rome and Paris, he served twice as Ambassador in Peking.
2. May I avail myself of this opportunity, Mr.
President, to express my very sincere appreciation of the sympathetic understanding
and assistance that I have been receiving from you and your government in
overcoming the immense difficulties placed in my path towards restoration of
democracy, by the unfortunate crisis in
3. As you know I have been doing everything within
my power to put the country back on the rails. However, India with her
intransigence, her open hostility and her unabashed support and aid to the
miscreants is making my task infinitely more difficult. I earnestly request you
to do all you can to dissuade India from this militantly aggressive attitude
of hers towards my country. She must be made to realize the serious threat
that her present policy is posing towards the peace of this region.
4. Since the announcement of my political program of
28th June, I have taken various steps to hasten the moment for the redemption
of my pledge to transfer power to a civilian government. As you may have been
informed, I have declared general amnesty in East Pakistan and have also
appointed a civilian Governor there, who is being assisted by civilian ministers
selected from various shades of political opinion. Dates for by-elections in
East Pakistan have also been announced. All these steps have evoked a response
from political circles and I am hopeful that by the end of the year the major
problems would have been resolved. In this process of democratization your
continued personal interest and the support of the US would be invaluable.
5. With that in view, I would earnestly hope that
Ambassador Raza, in whom I repose my fullest trust, would receive your kind
cooperation and would have access to you so as to keep you posted on future
developments in my country.
Please accept, Mr. President, the assurances of my
highest consideration.
Yours sincerely,
M. Yahya Khan
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