Letter
From Pakistani President Yahya to President Nixon/1/
/1/
Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials, NSC Files, Box 759,
Presidential Correspondence File, Pakistan (1971). No classification marking. Sent under cover of a letter from Ambassador Hilaly
to Saunders on May 27. (Ibid.)
Rawalpindi, May
24, 1971.
Dear Mr.
President,
I
appreciate greatly the constructive and friendly contents of your letter/2/ of May
7, 1971.
I am also grateful to you for receiving Mr. M.M. Ahmad and listening to him on
my behalf. He has informed me of the courtesy and the understanding shown to
him by you personally and by your colleagues, particularly Secretary Rogers and
Dr. Kissinger.
/2/
Document 41.
2. I
greatly value and welcome the sentiments of friendship and assurance of your
personal support for the renewal of our national development effort and the
resumption of normal economic activity throughout Pakistan. This is characteristic
of your Government's readiness to come to our assistance whenever needed.
3. It is
also a matter of great satisfaction for us to know of your sympathetic
comprehension of our manifold problems and difficulties. In particular, it is
gratifying to learn that you share our view that it is to no one's advantage to
permit the situation in East Pakistan to be internationalised and that any foreign intervention in this
situation could create new problems and compound the difficulty of securing an
ultimate settlement.
4. I take
this opportunity, Mr. President, to reaffirm my resolve to transfer power to a
civilian government at the earliest possible [time]. For this purpose, I have
initiated, once again, consultations with political leaders and elected
representatives of the people and I hope to announce at an early date the outlines
of my further plans. I have no doubt in my mind that with the support of the
responsible leadership in the country, we would be able to resolve the present
constitutional impasse.
5. Mr.
President, our plans for national reconstruction cannot materialise
so long as India follows a policy of
open and constant interference in our internal affairs. It was not a matter of
mere coincidence that the present crisis in Indo-Pakistan relations started
when Pakistan was at the threshold of
ushering in a democratically elected government. By arranging a hijacking
incident, India sought justification
for its decision to ban overflights of our aircraft.
Thus, a situation was created which not only imposed a heavy financial burden
on Pakistan but also made the task
of a political settlement between the two wings of our country more difficult.
Thereafter, India has persistently
attacked the sovereignty and integrity of Pakistan. The secessionist
elements in East
Pakistan
were encouraged and assisted by India. The Indian Parliament,
in an unprecedented move, officially extended sympathy and support to these
elements. The question of "recognising" the
rebellious movement has also been under consideration of the Indian Government.
Infiltrators and saboteurs from across the border have violated our territory
and indulged in activities to dislocate and destroy East Pakistan's economic and
industrial life, including the vital communications system.
6. It is
most unfortunate that due to disturbed conditions and for other reasons, a
large number of people left their homes in East Pakistan and crossed into India. Their migration has
created a human problem which should be treated as such. There is no
justification whatsoever for exploiting human misery for political gains. I
have, therefore, in a public statement urged the law abiding citizens of East Pakistan who were compelled to
migrate, to return to their homes and resume their normal duties. They would
not only be welcome but would be afforded necessary protection and assistance
by my Government.
7. I am
afraid, however, that I cannot extend a welcome to those persons who committed
murders, indulged in rape and arson, destroyed private and public properties
and looted Government treasuries and food stores. No Government can condone
such crimes against the people and the State.
8. Mr.
President, it hardly needs reiteration that the problem of our relations with India is a major factor in
the processes leading to the early resumption of normal life and economic
reconstruction in East Pakistan. It is not only in regard to the refugee
problem but also in respect of the banning of overflights,
encouragement to infiltrators and anti-state elements, and other such matters,
that India must exercise restraint
and adopt a constructive approach. If Mrs. Indira
Gandhi could be persuaded to show a more helpful attitude, there is no reason
why the political climate of the sub-continent should not register an immediate
and welcome improvement. Such a development is most desirable from our view
point as this would enable us to devote all our attention and energies to
tackling various problems including the question of refugees which demand
immediate solution.
9. As I
have stated above, the refugees pose a human problem which has to be settled on
that basis. At the same time I feel that it is not an isolated development and
stems from other issues which I have mentioned in the preceding paragraphs. Any
initiative, Mr. President, that you might find
possible to take in solving the refugee problem and the related issues would be
an act of historical significance.
With warm
personal regards,
Yours sincerely,
A.M. Yahya Khan