SITUATION REPORT ON SOUTH ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-545-14-6-5
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2013
• Sequence Number: 6
• Publication Date: December 12, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-545-14-6-5
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MEMORANDUM 1110 rl
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WASSINGTON
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INFORMATION
December. 12, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR: THE PRESIDENT
FROM: HENRY A. KISSINGER
SUB,TECT: Situation .Report on South Asia
When Ambassador Farland asked for President Yahya's views on a
ceasefire at midnight (EST) last night, Yahya said that he was pre? -
pared to do "anything reasonable under the circumstances." In
response to Fs.rland's question why Pakistan's first ceasefire proposal
of Friday had been replaced later in the day by a less comprehensive
one omitting political settlement, Yahya looked hard at Foreign Secretary
? Sultan Khan and said there had been a breakdown of communication and
apparently some "general misunderstandings." He added that the Foreign
Secrctar-y- as rectifyingthe sitoatioa. ccording wprebb, report:
from Rawalpindi, a Pakistani government spokesman said that major
diplomatic moves outside the UN and in keeping with the protection of
Pakistants interests are underway to end the conflict.
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From the United. Nations, Ambassador Bush reports that there are two
main routes events there could take:
-- One would be to do as Bhutto is presently inclined to do, i. e.
return to the Security Council to seek a resolution identical to the one
adopted in the General Assembly. Bush feels that some members of the
eleven who voted with us in the Security Council previously-, including
China, would not have much enthusiasm for simply provoking'a nr+111.P3*
-IDOS review completed
Soviet veto. Bhutto regards one advantage of this course as zurt.ner
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NSA, DIA reviews completed
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C03323279
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-545-14-6-5
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-545-14-6-5
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discrediting the USSR in the eyes of the 104 nations who voted for the
Assembly resolution. Bush points out that the Paks could start down
this track even if they are prepared (perhaps not overtly, to have a
resolution amended to include the last paragraph of the Soviet resolution
providing for following through the results of the December 1970 election
in East Pakistan.
-- The alternative course would be to try through an intermediary
to put together the essentials of a resolution which both parties would be
able to live with prior to calling for a Security. Council meeting. Bush
reports that Bhutto's expressed dislike for Pakistan's first Friday pro-
posal including political settlement suggests that Bhutto is more interested
in mounting a public campaign against India and the Soviets. Yahya's
comments to Farland, however, suggest that Bhutto may receive in-
structions to accept a ceasefire resolution with at least implication of a
negotiated withdrawal and political settlement to follow.
There is, of course, a third approach. ? This would be (1) to launch
Security Council debate calling for endorsement of the General Assembly
resolution, as described in the first approach above but (2) to be prepared
IJ), pre- arr asIgernent 'with key parties to divert the debate part-way through
to a compromise resolution.
Bush also reports Foreign Minister Singh's view that the UN cannot take
useful action at this time. If the UN does meet, he will insist that Bangla
Desh representatives be present. He maintained that India's recognition
of Bangla Desh had two purposes: (1) to make clear that India had no
territorial ambitions in East Pakistan and (2) to establish the moderate,
elected democratic group in an effort to control the Mukti Bahini.
Singh and India has no territorial aims in West Pakistan but cautioned
that this commitment is not open-ended if Pakistan continues the war and
tries to make gains in the west to compensate for losses in the east.
Under questioning, Singh would not make the same unequivocal conarnit-
ment on Azad Kashmir, Foreign Secretary Kaul said, "we have no ymajor
ambitions." Even in peacetime, Kaul said, India and Pakistan had talked
about minor rectifications in the border. Both Singh and Kaul repeatedly
said that they do not wish to prolong the war.
The evacuation of 300 foreign nationals from Dacca was completed this
morning, including more than 100 Americans, Four BriVsh, Z-130's with
UN markings completed the job.
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-545-14-6-5
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Yesterday there was alrya
had told his prime minister designate that the Chinese ambassador it..25X1 ?
Islamabad had assured him that within 72 hours the Chinese army would
rrlove toward the Northeast Frontier Agency brocier of India.
DIA report this -morning that no inforrna,tion has yet been received on .
unusual activity by Chinese forces in Tibet.
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