countries have drawn the attention of the UN to this “slaughter." How can this be reconciled with the concept of brotherhood of East and West Pakistan or of democratic principles of Government?
Answer: It was neither indiscriminate killing nor slaughter of unarmed civilians. Deserters of East Pakistan Rifles and East Bengal Regiment were fully trained soldier equipped with recoilless rifles, machine guns and mortars. They mutinied and the mutiny was put down with the requisite measure of force. In so far as the “slaughter of intellectuals is concerned, many of them have just appeared on TV from Dacca and many / others are having a good time in foreign lands at India's expense after being “slaughtered." Still others have issued statements describing the reports of their killing as “highly exaggerated."
Q. 31: Is it correct to say that more than one Division, with complementary support, was already stationed in East Pakistan before March 25, 1971 7
Answer: With 100,000 Indian troops concentrated on our border in addition to the Indian Border Security Force personnel, necessary steps were taken for the defense of our country.
Q. 32: It is alleged that a SSG Commando group specially trained for (under cover) operations in sabotage and assassination was distributed in key centers of East Pakistan and they were probably responsible for the attacks on Bengalis in Dacca and Saidpur in the two days before March 25 to provoke clashes between locals and non-locals so as to provide a cover for military intervention. How far is this correct'
Answer: A sovereign state's defense forces do not need subterfuges to maintain law and order in their own country.
Q. 33: Is it contemplated that East Pakistanis should continue to be recruited to the Army in future and if so on the same scale as in the past or on a higher scale?
Answer: All citizens have the right to offer themselves to defend their country. East Pakistanis will have to play a full part in the defense of the country.
Q. 34: With an eye on logistics and difficulties of transportation, how long will the Army sustain its operations effectively in the event of a prolonged civil war or guerrilla warfare?
Answer: There is no civil war, a few battalions were misled into mutinying and they have been quashed. The popular support required for guerrilla warfare is not there. Actually the people are bitter against those who have betrayed their confidence.
Q. 35: How big is the problem of defection of civil, military, diplomatic personnel and East Pakistani politicians?
Answer: Large elements of EPR, EBR and auxiliary forces like the Ansars have defected but civilian and diplomatic defections are few and far between. Just a handful. Q. 36: Can disintegration or separation of the two Wings be averted through military force?
