DACCA: Indian authorities are reported to have taken measures to supply the secessionist elements with arms, ammunition and other goods following the open support announced by the Indian parliament for these secessionist elements in East Pakistan. According to reports from across the border, so-called relief camps claimed by India to have been set up for refugees crossing into India are actually being used as supply bases. Quantities of arms and ammunition have been stored in these camps which have been set up across the Sylhet border.

[Meanwhile, as reported by agencies in Islamabad,] A Pakistani merchant ship, the “Ocean Endurance” sailing on a recognised international sea-lane, was harassed by Indian warships in the early hours....

At 30 minutes past midnight, when the merchant vessel was sailing 70 miles west of the Indian Naval Base of Dwarka, four warships of the Indian Navy approached it from the port side and started closing in on a collision course. Seeing this, the “Ocean Endurance” changed course and headed for Karachi. The Indian warships signalled the merchant vessel to stop, and when it did not do so, they followed it and continued to harass it for the next five hours till the ship neared Karachi.

Published in Dawn, April 3rd, 2021