ISLAMABAD: A Foreign Office spokesman said here today [April 1] that “there have been reports of infiltration of armed Indians in border areas of East Pakistan”. The spokesman added that the authorities in East Pakistan “are fully alive to the needs of the situation and are taking necessary steps to meet it adequately”. Commenting on the resolution reported to have been passed by the Indian Parliament on the situation in East Pakistan, the spokesman said the Government of Pakistan has taken very serious view of the resolution. “It constituted blatant interference in internal affairs of Pakistan,” he added.

Asked about the reports circulated by Indian Press ... that the Indian representative in New York had approached the United Nations Secretary-General about developments in East Pakistan, the spokesman said, “No official confirmation has been received of any approach by India to the UN Secretary General in regard to the situation in East Pakistan”. However, he added, “It is absolutely clear that this matter does not call for any interest on the part of the United Nations”.

The spokesman declined to answer further questions on India’s preparations against Pakistan and her continued efforts to exploit the situation to the maximum.

Published in Dawn, April 2nd, 2021