WASHINGTON: The United States has recognised Bangla Desh, the State Department said today [April 4]. Secretary of State William Rogers said in a statement that a U.S. State Department official was on his way to Dacca with a message from President Nixon to Prime Minister Sheikh Mujibur Rahman telling him of the U.S. desire to establish diplomatic relations at Embassy level – the highest level possible.

A State Department spokesman said the presence of Indian forces in Bangla Desh was one of the factors delaying the U.S. decision to grant recognition. He said some of the other factors were restoration of stability in the new State, and the impact U.S recognition would have on other Governments of the area. This appeared to be a reference particularly to Pakistan and China. — News agencies

[Meanwhile, as reported by a staff correspondent from Lahore,] President Bhutto said here today [April 4] that there was no room for ambiguity in the PPP-NAP-JUI agreement. No provision of it warranted reference to anybody for correct interpretation, he told newsmen at the airport. In an obvious reference to the NAP-JUI demand for referring Clause 3 of the agreement to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court for correct interpretation, the President said that the question of interpretation had unnecessarily cropped up though the parties involved seemed to be very clear about the essence and substance of the agreement.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2022