পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (চতুর্দশ খণ্ড).pdf/৫৪৪

বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড launches a surprise attack, India will extend the war to Pakistan territory. Hazelhurst says that this warning comes in the context of unconfirmed reports that Pakistan has evacuated the civilian population along large areas of the Western frontier region and that a number of armored and infantry divisions have moved up to borders. India, says Hazelhurst, has replied by strengthening its positions in the border. Tension, he says has reached a dangerous level with leave for the armed forces cancelled on both sides and a build-up of oil and petrol reserves. According to Hazelhurst's report it is estimated in India that President Yahya Khan has deployed nearly five divisions in East Pakistan and most of his remaining 10 divisions along the western front. India says Hazelhurst can commit 12 or 13 of her 27 divisions to the Western front with ten mountain divisions tied down on the Chinese frontier and the remaining three or four divisions near the East Pakistan border. According to Hazelhurst, Indians fear that President Yahya might be tempted to hit back in the West if the East Bengal guerrillas begin to harass his forces in the East effectively. Indian military strategists, says Hazelhurst believe that if the Pakistanis strike they will do so before the Himalayan passes on the Chinese border close with the onset of Winter. On the other hand, he adds if the Indians decide to solve the refugee problem by pushing the West Pakistanis out of East Bengal, the operation would not begin until the passes are closed. In a long study of the situation in East Pakistan, Kevin Rafferty in the Financial Times says that it is not certain whether the army there will devote itself after the end of the Monsoon to the business of opening up supply lines to provide food in the areas where it is most needed or to opening up supply lines for the task of mopping up guerrillas. Should he choose the second course, says Rafferty, the Bengal border will be tinder for an Indo-Pakistan war, there will be yet more refugees and many more people will die. It is a question of priorities, says Rafferty. and ifs not certain which President Yahya will choose. But, he adds, there are 40 million people in East Pakistan in danger of starvation whose lives depend on his choice. २१ ! ASIAN TOPICAL TALKS GUERRILLAS AND FOOD 15th October, 1971 by Mark Tully (S) The Head of the United Nations Relief Operation in East Pakistan said on Thursday that the prevention of famine in East Pakistan during the next four months depends on whether food can be distributed efficiently. Mark Tully looks at the situation on the ground in East Pakistan in the light of recent reports. Ever since the military action in East Pakistan stated at the end of March there have been dire warnings of immersing famine in East Pakistan. The few reports there are from people who have travelled in East Pakistan recently indicate that so far there is no signs of malnutrition on a large scale. But almost everyone who has seen to East Pakistan fears that there are still very real dangers.