459 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড this particular move of the Johnson Administration was frustrated by the unwillingness of any suitably equipped third country to go along with the arrangements, in October, 1970 the Nixon administration offered to self Pakistan certain items including a squadron of F104 Star fighters, a squadron of B-57 bombers," and about 300 armored personnel Caffi€f$. Viewed from the United States, the emergencies of an independent Bangladesh friendly to India is likely to aid the long-terms U. S. foreign policy goal of reducing conflict and tension on the Indian sub-continent. The issue of Kashmir, a matter on which East Pakistan has never been aroused, will continue to divide India and West Pakistan. But as a separate entity, West Pakistan is unlikely to have the capacity to continue the long and costly confrontation with India, which has sapped the scarce resources of both these poor countries, An independent East Pakistan will probably follow a moderately pro-Western policy, which may be consolidated with the provision of aid by U.S. and multilateral agencies. But if the struggle for independence is prolonged by the continuation of U. S. aid to the Pakistan government, the damage to the United States image and the rise to power of leftist elements in the independence movement will both frustrate the development of friendly relations with the U. S. Eye-witness reports in the Washington Post and New York Times confirm that American arms are now being used, along with Russian and Chinese, to establish a reign of terror in East Pakistan. The American Government must not be party to the killing of defenseless civilians or the forcible repression of the struggle by East Pakistanis for control over their own lives. Since the agreements under which the arms were given limit their use for defensive purposes, the U. S. certainly has a basis to protest their use for massacring unarmed civilians. Continuing military and economic aid 15 not neutrality in this matter. In the current situation, all aid is bound to flow 10 the government in West Pakistan. At the very least, the United States should prevent deliveries under the October 1970 arms offer, avoid all further arms deals, and cut off economic aid to Pakistan. Such action, together with moral and diplomatic pressure, could bring an end to hostilities and lead to early institution of democratic government. NOTES 1. Reports of the Advisory Panels for the Fourth Five Year Plan 1970-75, Vol. I, Planning Commission, Government of Pakistan, July, 1970. 2. Planning Commission, op. cit, p. 2. 3. Soligo. R. and Stern, J. J., "Tariff Protection, Import Substitution, and Investment Efficiency." Pakistan Development Review, Summer 1965. This demonstrates the inefficiency of nearly all industries. 4. Planning Commission, op. cit., p. 6. 5. Foreign Trade statistics, various issues, Central Statistical Office, Government of Pakistan.
