Four days later, on 24 May, The Times correspondent confirmed in a despatch from Calcutta that “A full battery of anti-aircraft was moved on to the eastern perimeter of the airport yesterday morning. The gunners were soon aligning their radar sets and setting guns in an easterly direction. This would indicate that the Indian Government is preparing itself for something more than a limiied border conflict". The correspondent further reported that “At least three regiment- from northern India, the Punjab Regiment, the Rajputs, and the Maratha Light Infantry, are in the vanguard on the Jessore front. Recoilless anti-tank guns, mounted on jeeps have moved up to within 50 yards of the border, and Sikhs and Rajputs were seen within hundred yards of the frontier constructing fortifications dugouts along the disused railway line connecting India and East Bengal".
Violation of Pakistan's Borders
Having plotted armed subversion through secessionist elements in East Pakistan and failed, India is now poised for resorting to a military solution. As early as May 1971, foreign press correspondents started reporting violation by India of the fivemile border zone. “It seems as if the situation on the border is moving ineluctably towards a confrontation", reported the London Tinies on 2 May 1971. Reports have since been received that India has actually violated Pakistan's border at several points during the last few weeks, the latest incident being on 19 June 1971, when Indian soldiers trespassed into Sylhet district of East Pakistan. A Pakistan patrol party, while on a normal patrolling mission encountered the Indian soldiers in green uniform in the Lathitilla area. Simultaneously, the Pakistani patrol party was subjected to intense mortar fire from across this border in support of the Indian soldiers.
The same day (19 June) an Indian Border Security Force patrol also intruded into Pakistan territory in Manikpur area, in Jessore district and opened fire. When the Pakistan troops returned the fire, Indians withdrew hurriedly across the border.
The Indians have also been continuing unprovoked firing into East Pakistan from across the border. On June 19, they fired three-inch mortar shells on the Pakistani border outpost at Baikari, in Khulna, district. Similarly Pakistan's border outposts at Katlamari and Jaipur, in Sylhet district were subjected to light machine-gun and small arms fire, the same day. Earlier, on June 18, the Pakistani border outpost at Benapole, in Jessore district was shelled by the Indians with heavy mortars.
Pakistan has drawn the attention of the Big Powers to India's growing military involvement in East Pakistan which is posing a grave threat to peace in the subcontinent. This followed the intensification of Indian military actions against East Pakistan in recent weeks. Almost every day, Indian guns and small arms have been firing across the border and Indian forces have been infiltrating into Pakistan territory. What is more, Indian leaders and the ruling Congress have now openly started advocating the use of force in support of “Bangladesh".
Pakistan has, of course, been sending protest notes to India and two were lodged on 21 and 22 June, 1971 listing the following incidents:
(i) On June 16, Indian armed personnel machine-gunned and shelled with 3-inch
