Before the political crisis began to mount, the Pakistani Army had about 25,000 troops in East Pakistan. Large numbers of reinforcements have been flown over from West Pakistan, which is separated from the Eastern province by over a thousand miles of Indian territory.
Some estimates put the number of West Pakistani troops in East Pakistan at 60,000 to - 80,000, most of them Punjabis and Pathans. The Punjabis in particular have traditionally held the Bengalis in disdain though both are predominantly Moslem.
Though the average amount of ammunition kept by the guerrilla riflemen is 30 to 40 rounds, their determination seems high, fueled many cases by the fact that the Pakistani Army has killed members of their families-and sometimes all of them.
“They have made me an orphan,” said one soldier who, like many of his comrades, had glassy eyes and seemed unable to believe what had happened. “My life is unimportant now.” Two days ago West Pakistani troops, as they had been for several says” were burning villages on the outskirts of Comilla less than a mile from the Indian border. Their apparent purpose was to remove all cover within a five-mile radius of the airstrip. Reports indicate they are doing the same all over East Pakistan.
Maj. Khaled Musharrof, the 32-year-old guerrilla commander in the area, sent out a 10-man patrol to harass the Pakistani troops. This correspondent accompanied the patrol, three of whose members had no shoes.
Using rice paddies to advantage, the patrol stalked to within 200 yards of the soldiers, who were throwing phosphorous grenades into thatch huts. The Bengalis, who had some Chinese made automatic weapons, opened fire, which the soldiers immediately returned. The shooting was nearly constant for about 20 minutes, after which the Bengalis came scrambling back to safety over an embankment.
The co-ordination of guerrilla units is poor and in some instances non-existent. The Bengalis are now devoting themselves to guerrilla tactics while the army has gained control of most of the major cities and towns, including the cantonments and airfields.
With their added strength, the troops are launching forays into the countryside and sending out motorized columns to try to link up the cities they control. A few of the columns have been successful, but not many, because the guerrillas have been able to cut road, water and rail links with some regularity.
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