LONDON: Britain’s strong fear that an all-out Indo-Pakistan war over secessionism in East Pakistan could lead to disintegration of the whole Sub-continent is believed to have been put to Premier Indira Gandhi by Premier Edward Heath and other British leaders she has met there. During her current visit to Britain Mrs. Indira Gandhi is not only seeking firmer British support for an “acceptable political solution” in East Pakistan before the return of refugees. She has also probed British reactions to what “Sunday Times” diplomatic correspondent … disclosed as “information she is getting of separatist tendencies within East Pakistan”.

Despite official British posture of sympathy for India and despite renewed virulent propaganda against Pakistan in the British news media, responsible Britons acknowledged that India’s insistence on a political solution based solely on reinstatement of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his outlawed Awami League and talk of separatism within West Pakistan only strengthen worst fears of the people and leaders of Pakistan about Indian intentions.

… [P]remier Heath and Foreign Secretary Sir Alec Douglas are of the view that Mrs Gandhi “will have to speak to Pakistan sooner or later and that India’s reluctance to take a political initiative weakens a very strong case”.

Published in Dawn, November 1st, 2021