INDIA/PAKISTAN

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: Library of Congress
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): LOC-HAK-537-6-10-8
• Release Decision: RIPLIM
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 13
• Document Creation Date: January 11, 2017
• Document Release Date: January 4, 2013
• Sequence Number: 10
• Publication Date: December 6, 1971
• Content Type: MEMO

No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-537-6-10-8
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ON-FILE NSC RELEASE
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December 6, 1971
MEMORANDUM FOR
THE SECRETARY OF THE TREASURY
SUBJECT: India/ Palo.tan
Attached are a few papers I thought you migbt want to look
over before the 1130 meeting this afternoon with the
President,
Henry A. Kissinger
HAK:JTH:m9:12/6/71
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-537-6-10-8
 No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04 . LOC-HAK-537-6-10-8
THE,. IVITITF, HOUSE
. TOP SECTE'i ."SEMSITIVE
CONTAINS CODEWORn December 6, 1971
'MEMORANDUM: FOR.:
THH PRESIDENT
FRom., HENRY A .. KISSI'NCER
SUBJECT -Information -Items
India-Pakistan Situation: TheIndian.forces are continuing
their a1 1-out offensive ? into East Pakistan and heavier. fight-
i.ng' is developing in the @)es't, where' the Paks -seem to be' taking:
the initiative: In more detail the :military situation looks
as :.f o11ows
In East . Pakistan the Indian forces are.. making gradual
progress.on several fronts.. They are. pressing.; the
.outnumbered Pak forces on -several strategic fronts.
and ''the the Indian gains so : far. nnay - be . lay ing? the basis
for more dramatic success es..in.the near future Thee
r:i U ica.tl ui) j .c i :LV _i,s C.o . T.Ux'1 d taK s UP.Ver ct e v 1S1 L- as t
Pakistan within the next week, if. -at all possible.
Ground action on the?..Indian-West 'Pakistan front has.
been increasing., but it is yet, as widespread as
..in the' East and neither side. appears to. be making.
clear-cut major gains. The Indian strategy is to
., mainta.,in an essentially defensive posture in. the
West until the battle is won in the- East, but there .
are indications that the Paks may be preparing a
Major: offensive. 'thrust in Kashmir that would un-.
dou.btedly force an Indian counter.
.In'the air war, India has apparently achievedcom--
plete air superiority in t,he', East and is using its
air force to.%sup por.t the ground. offensive. The
Indians continue to bomb and strafe military targets
in: major cities in. both East and West.Pakistan. fuel
storage tanks .in the Dacca and Chittagong. areas of
`East Pakistan and in the West Pakistan part ofKa.rachi
.have been especially -hard ..hit.
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CONTA.ITIS CODEWORD
No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-537-6-10-8
 ?- No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04: LOC-HAK-537-6-10-8
nryry t
THc navies of both countries are also active. The
Tn('I"Lan Navy is blockading ports in both East and
West Pakistan and claim -to have Sunk two Pak de-
stroyers and to have shelled the port of Karachi.
India's aircraft carrier is operating against East
Pakistan. The numerical superiority of India's
fleet should give it a decided advantage in any
future naval combat.
On the political front, Mrs. Gandhi has announced rndi.a's
long--anticipated recognition of Bangle Desh as an independent
nation. Even though the significance of this move has been
lessened by the hostilities,. the Paks responded by breaking
diplomatic relations with India.' The Swiss ' will look after
Pakistan's interests in New Delhi
Last night's Security Council meeting, on the Indo-Pak crisis
underlined both the isolation of the Soviet/Indian position
and the determination of the USSR to prevent any resolution
not to its liking. The' Soviet: draft resolution (calling for
an East Pakistan political settl.emerit which would "inevitably
.result in a cessation of host'i.l sties" and for Pakistan to
cease acts of violence in East Pakistan which "led to the
deterioration of the. situatiu,4) wxs defeated; 2 in ' favor
( USSR and. Poland) , 1 again.] a - \ 4.11_L114.1/ C.41id J.2 tl staini4 t (.i n--
clucling the U..S.). Another resolution co-sponsored by eight
non-permanent members (calling for a cease-fire, withdrawal,,
efforts to bring about conditions necessary for the return
of refugees) lost to a Soviet veto; 11 in favor (including
`
the. U.S.), 2 against (USSR, Poland) and 2 .abstaining (UK,
France), just as the U.S. draft had yesterday. The Pak
representative had found this resolution acceptable. The
Chinese resolution (condemning Indian egression) was not
put to a vote but the Chinese continued to sharply attack
India. Sino--Soviet name-calling continued throughout the
debate.
Most speakers deplored the-inability of the Council. to act
proceeding to vote on resolutions which would fail. Follow-
ing the vote the Italian representative tabled. a. resolution
limited to a call for an. immediate cease-fire as a first
stop. However, he was stopped from pressing the resolution
to a vote by a movement to adjourn until, this afternoon sup-
ported by the USSR, U.S.', UK.. and France which was accepted
.by the Council . There worse sub ges Lions during the corridor
consultations that the issue be taken to the General Assembly
if the Council proved unable to ~:ict The more likely i .mediate
presUure, ho% -Ievcr, will oi;e;rqt e in .-the. direction of the
Italian proposal :dot, a simple? cc i~.i(1 'e r(: ao.Luli:on.
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No Objection to Declassification in Part 2013/01/04. LOC-HAK-537-6-10-8
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