KARACHI: …IN an interview with Thomas Fenton of the Columbia Broadcasting System … the President said that if India attacked Pakistan, China will of course intervene. Asked whether Pakistan and India were closer to war the President said it was already an undeclared war. The President pointed out that Pakistan was exercising considerable restraint with India “who had been continuously shelling our borders”. Asked about the trial of the leader of the outlawed Awami League, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the President said that the trial was going on.

President Yahya further said that the fate of Sheikh Mujib was up to the court to decide. He, however, said that as soon as the trial is completed the proceedings of the case would be published. Asked about a political settlement in East Pakistan the President said that he had already given a plan for the transfer of power to people’s representatives and would implement it. When asked how will he transfer power without a majority party in East Pakistan, the President said, after the elections were over a majority party would emerge to which power will be transferred. Referring to the displaced persons, President Yahya Khan said that Pakistan was ready to take back all genuine DPs who had left their homes and gone over to India. “We have accepted the UN proposals in this regard,” he added. — News agencies

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2021