Confidential

November 13, 1971

From: American Embassy New Delhi

To: Secretary State Washington DC

 

While waiting for Prime Minister Gandhi's plane to land on her re­turn from trip to Western Europe and USA I had an opportunity for separate conversations with several important GOI officials. Most significant points were the following:

 

Cabinet Secretary Swaminathan confirmed to me that all was in readiness for an intensive review of the present situation with the Prime Minister this weekend. Swaminathan estimated that Mrs. Gan­dhi would not make any final decision on Indian strategy in present crisis until after Parliament had reconvened November 15.

 

Defense Secretary K B Lal confirmed that heavy fighting continued in Belonia Salient (East Pakistan). He refuted my statement that In­dian army forces involved and claimed that Indian participation lim­ited to border security forces personnel. He also confirmed that Paki­stan air force had operated in the area and implied that struggle still continuing. Lal said he had assigned personnel to monitor Pak radio as well as West Pakistan and Dacca press, and noted Dacca press of increasing interest.

 

Air Chief Marshall P C Lal confirmed that IAF in highest state of readiness. He added that performance in all areas, i.e., maintenance, etc., was showing continued improvement since alert declared. He anticipated that with passage of time quality of performance would fall off. In response to my question of how long present state of readiness could be maintained he believed it could be maintained for two months but it would be increasingly thereafter.

 

5. Prime Minister appeared fatigued but had usual bounce. She held press conference at airport which broke no new ground.

 

 

Source: Bangladesh Liberation War and the Nixon House 1971, Enayetur Rahim and Joyce L. Rahim, Pustaka Dhaka, p – 360 - 361