South Asia crisis, 1971"The scope of this volume is limited to the political crisis that began in Pakistan in March 1971 with the government's efforts to suppress Bengali demands for virtual autonomy in East Pakistan and concluded with the establishment of the state of Bangladesh at the end of the year. The limited time frame covered by the volume enabled the editor to compile the record of the Nixon administration's response to the crisis in considerable detail. The crisis was managed largely out of the White House by President Nixon and his Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger, with the support of the National Security Council staff. The focus of the volume is on the management of the crisis by Nixon and Kissinger. The editor selected documentation to trace the evolution of the United States response to the crisis from Nixon's initial reluctance to become involved to his "tilt" toward Pakistan which was highlighted by the despatch of the aircraft carrier Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal to act as a restraint on India in the war that had developed between India and Pakistan as a result of the crisis. Nixon's response to the crisis in Pakistan was conditioned in part by the concern that he and Kissinger had to protect the emerging opening to China, which had been facilitated by Pakistani President Yahya Khan. The volume documents that concern, as well as the assurance offered to China that the United States would protect China from the Soviet Union if China took military action against India in support of Pakistan. The record of the Nixon administration's management of the crisis in South Asia thus also bears importantly on United States relations at the time with China and the Soviet Union. In that respect, the volume should be read in conjunction with Foreign Relations, 1969-1976, volume XVII, China, 1969-1972; volume XIII, Soviet Union, October 1970- October 1971; and volume XIV, Soviet Union, October 1971-May 1971"--Overview. |
From inside the book
Page 26
... Kissinger : Then the prognosis is for civil war resulting even- tually in independence or for independence fairly quickly . Mr. Van Hollen : That's right . Dr. Kissinger : Now that Yahya has taken the lead in opposing the secession ...
... Kissinger : Then the prognosis is for civil war resulting even- tually in independence or for independence fairly quickly . Mr. Van Hollen : That's right . Dr. Kissinger : Now that Yahya has taken the lead in opposing the secession ...
Page 28
... Kissinger : What should we do in that case ? Mr. Van Hollen : Go slow . This will be a problem for our relations with Yahya . Dr. Kissinger : I talked to the Indian Ambassador the other day . He said that the Indians preferred Pakistan ...
... Kissinger : What should we do in that case ? Mr. Van Hollen : Go slow . This will be a problem for our relations with Yahya . Dr. Kissinger : I talked to the Indian Ambassador the other day . He said that the Indians preferred Pakistan ...
Page 41
... Kissinger : What is our judgment on the countryside generally ? Can 30,000 troops do anything against 75 million people ? Lt. Gen. Cushman : It could be very bloody . Dr. Kissinger : Unless it turns out that with the cities under ...
... Kissinger : What is our judgment on the countryside generally ? Can 30,000 troops do anything against 75 million people ? Lt. Gen. Cushman : It could be very bloody . Dr. Kissinger : Unless it turns out that with the cities under ...
Page 42
... Kissinger : I didn't know about that either until I saw Farland's blast.5 Mr. Blee : If the Indians recognize the Government of Bangla Desh , the Pakistanis might recognize Kashmir . However , this doesn't look probable . Dr. Kissinger ...
... Kissinger : I didn't know about that either until I saw Farland's blast.5 Mr. Blee : If the Indians recognize the Government of Bangla Desh , the Pakistanis might recognize Kashmir . However , this doesn't look probable . Dr. Kissinger ...
Page 60
... Kissinger : On the question of emergency food , we had made a commitment to East Pakistan as a result of the cyclone ... Kissinger : If there had been no civil war , would we have wanted to use an international mechanism ? Mr. Sisco : No ...
... Kissinger : On the question of emergency food , we had made a commitment to East Pakistan as a result of the cyclone ... Kissinger : If there had been no civil war , would we have wanted to use an international mechanism ? Mr. Sisco : No ...
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Common terms and phrases
action agreed Ambassador Farland army asked Assistant for National attack Awami League Bangla Desh Bengali Bhutto border ceasefire Central Files China Chinese conversation crisis Dacca December December 12 Delhi discussion Document draft East Bengal East Pakistan effort Embassy forces Foreign Minister Foreign Secretary Gandhi Government guerrillas Haig Helms Hilaly Hollen Ibid India India and Pakistan Irwin Islamabad issue Johnson Kissinger Papers Kissinger's meeting memorandum military supply million Moorer move Mujib Mujibur Mukti Bahini National Archives National Security Affairs Nixon Presidential Materials noted NSC Files Packard Pakistan Army political accommodation political settlement President Nixon President Yahya President's Assistant Prime Minister problem refugees relief resolution Saunders Security Council Singh Sisco situation source text South Asia Soviet Union talk Telegram text not declassified tion United Vorontsov Washington West White House Williams WSAG Yahya Khan