Indians are lobbing from 150 to 3,000 artillery and mortar shells across East Pakistan borders every 24......... hours The East Pakistani Guerrillas) are 'destroying- bridges. electric pylons, even a food ship the other day. The Indians have set up 23 guerrilla training camps...Civil populations have been evacuated from their border areas, their Defense Minister is threatening us every day......If the Indians escalate with a view to capturing territory and installing a pupped Bangladesh regime, that will be war.
On Indian's Military Advantages
How can our army fight and win against an}} (Indian) army that is five times its size? It would be military lunacy for me to take them on. But if we are attacked, we will fight back. (The Indian) have a big war machine that is self-sufficient in many respects. If they can lob over 3000 shells in a day, that means they have plenty of ammunition on hand. It's a luxury to our army cannot afford.
On Chinese Aid To Pakistan
The Chinese will not tolerate an attack on Pakistan. We will get all the weapons and ammunition we need, (every assistance) short of physical intervention. We gel some things, free and pay for others. But Chinese terms are so easy 25-year credit, interest free. Last year when I was in Peking I negotiated 200 million worth of economic aid for our Five-Year Plan with no interest.
On Negotiations
I don't want to escalate. I'm doing my best to defuse the situation. I have repeatedly accepted U Thant's proposals for International Observers to observe anything they wish, including how we are resettling refugees who come back (to East Pakistan) I cannot accept the figures that there are 9 million East Pakistani-even it will not be 4 million after impartial observers, through counting. Whatever, the figure. I will accept anyone who left after March as a Pakistani national and take him back. This can only be controlled by the United Nations.
On The Future Of Bangladesh
No one ever treated the Bengalis fairly. We too have made mistake and by “we" I also mean East Pakistanis who have been our presidents and premiers since independence. East Pakistan was down and out, and we did not pay sufficient attention to its development. We are now trying to make up for last time. The new constitution will be promulgated on December 20. They are 1,000 miles away so it is only normal that they enjoy maximum autonomy and handle their own affairs. That means everything except defense, foreign affairs and taxation.
On Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
any people might not believe me, but I think if he (Mujib, the Bengali leader currently on trial for treason) went back (to East Pakistan) he would be killed by his own people who hold him responsible for all the suffering. In any case, it is an academic
