LONDON: A major split on the nature and degree of pressure on Pakistan through suspension of development and non-project aid for the 1971-72 fiscal year, has arisen between the United States, Britain, France and some other important member states of the Aid Consortium.

In sharp contrast with the joint communique issued after the talks Indian Foreign Minister Sar­dar Sawaran Singh had here early last week with British Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas-Home, which called for an acceptable political settlement in East Pakistan, the US State Depart­ment made it plain ... that economic, rather than political, considerations will influence the American decision on the resumption of aid to Pakistan.

Not only do the United States, Canada, West Germany and some other member-States of the Aid Consortium take a different view ... from the hard line adopted by the British Government after the Indian Foreign Minister’s visit, they have also stated through diplomatic channels that too crude and overt a pressure on Pakistan might prove counter-productive... .

They also reject the British view that only through such pressure can an Indian attack on Pakistan be averted.

Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2021