পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (পঞ্চম খণ্ড).pdf/৫১৮

494 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ পঞ্চম খন্ড Nevertheless the decision has been taken with a view to creating an impact on the 1972 presidential elections. President Nixon's foreign policy has suffered .severe setback with the signing of the Indo-Soviet pact and the entry of the Peoples Republic of China into the United Nation and consequent expulsion of the US baby-the Taiwan regime of Chiang Kai Shek. According to political observers, this deliberately timed announcement of the stoppage of arms aid to Pakistan is being interpreted as an attempt by President Nixon to recoup at least a part of the territory he had lost to the Democrats. The announcement, however, should receive careful consideration of the people of Bangladesh and their friends around the world. One must not fail to notice that the decision to stop future arms aid was reached with the consent of Yahya junta. Moreover, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that there has been any change at all in U. S. Administration's basic approach to Bangladesh tragedy. Despite Indian Prime Minister's personal approach, President Nixon has chosen to remain sympathetic to Islamabad regime and has declined to put pressure upon Yahya and his killer gang even to halt their butchery in Bangladesh. This fact, again, emphasizes that the stoppage decision has, perhaps, nothing to do with the plight of the Bangladesh people-that the move is aimed at U. S. politics at home. The fact that Yahya voluntarily agreed to the stoppage-particularly at a time when he is faced with certain defeat in Bangladesh-invites a lot of suspicion. Could it be that he agreed to the stoppage of direct aid in lieu of promises of the same aid through indirect channels? Pakistan's close lies with Saudi Arabia. Jordan, Iran and Turkey may help to open up an alternative route for U. S. arms flow without disturbing Nixon Administration's domestic image. All these countries have been close collaborators of Yahya in latter's genocidal war against Bangladesh people. There are confirmed reports that during last six months substantial quantities of military hardware and fuel came to Yahya by way of Tehran and Ankara. Is there any way to stop passage of U. S. arms crates via these countries? U. S. Congressmen have displayed great alertness over their administration's heartless policy vis-a-vis Bangladesh. Perhaps, they would now be on the lookout for any such deception. A great part of the credit for the stoppage of direct arms supply to Islamabad must go lo "New York Times". Had it not been for its superb exposition of the State Department lies vis-a-vis continued arms aid to Pakistan despite a public announcement to the contrary—the real behind-the-scene story would never have come to light. By this the paper has served a great human cause-because the entire civilization is now on trial in Bangladesh. We are pretty certain that with such daring watchdogs of human values remaining active, it would not be easy for the black cargo to reach the killers unnoticed. Despite the doubts and fears, the State Department announcement certainly marks a significant step forward in mankind's march toward a better world. We congratulate all these Congressmen who have been responsible for exerting the pressure needed.