545 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ চতুর্দশ খন্ড insisted on the planes going to Dacca through Calcutta in order to know the flight plans in detail to avoid any disaster, and to ensure that the flights are not being used for anything other than humanitarian purposes. Whether or not this Indian requirement might be altered now it is impossible to predict, and what exactly the Pakistanis want is hard to see, unless they are contemplating straightforward blackmail and intend: to hold foreigners as hostages as a way to try to press other states to support them at the United Nations and elsewhere. Such a suggestion however is uncharitable and there is no ground for believing that such a motive is in Pakistani thoughts. A softening of Indian requirements also might help ease the problem. The Canadian plane could fly in easily enough from Bangkok and the Royal Air Force planes directly from Singapore if other methods could be worked out to meet Indian stipulations. At this stage we can only wait and see while diplomatic efforts are pursued to resolve the deadlock. Meanwhile the Indian safe conduct period is due to expire just as I make this broadcast. S8 DESPATCH FROM CALCUTTA 9th December 1971 by David Sells INTERVIEWER: You've been to Jessore David and you confirm that it is now absolutely in Indian hands is it? SELLS They went through the town yesterday. They went also to big military base which is two or three miles to the north of the town and also the airfield they are all in Indian hands and we were able to see with our own eyes. The Pakistanis had blown several bridges on the way they'd blow them very expertly. The town of Jessore itself was rather deserted. People were just beginning to come back into the town and they were patently delighted to see troops. Տ(t DESPATCH FROM DELHI 9th December, 1971 by John Osman The war between India and Pakistan continues as at this moment, 5 a.m. London time. The formal flag raising ceremony was held in. New Delhi at the newly recognized Bangladesh mission here,
