THE PRESIDENT'S DAILY BRIEF 28 MARCH 1971

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: President's Daily Brief 1969-1977
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005992553
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: T
• Document Page Count: 5
• Document Creation Date: August 14, 2016
• Document Release Date: August 24, 2016
• Publication Date: March 28, 1971

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The President's Daily Brief
`A.
22 March 1971
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SUNDAY CABLE
28 March 71
PAKISTAN
High-ranking Pakistani military officers are now claim-
ing to US officials that the armed forces are rapidly re-
establishing control over East Pakistan. The military situa-
tion remains confused, however, and Indian press reporting
in particular, claiming that the army is battling the para-
military East Pakistani Rifles together with police and
civilians in various provinces, appears to be exaggerated.
The condition of the Martial Law Administrator, for
the East, Lieutenant General Tikka Khan, is not clear; he
has been variously reported killed and seriously injured.
International press treatment of events
is likely to be somewhat colored for the
next several days as a result of the forcible
departure, at gunpoint, of several corres-
pondents from Dacca on 26 March. Included
in the group were representatives of at least
nine US press and television services.
The US Consul General in Dacca reported that the city ex-
perienced an uneasy calm yesterday and that the daytime cur-
few was lifted. He reports that the military crackdown on
the city was accomplished "swiftly, efficiently, and often
with ruthless brutality." No Americans are known to have
been injured and evacuation is not being recommended at this
time because the army is in full control of Dacca and popular
retaliation against Americans is not now considered likely.
Despite repeated denials from the clandestine East Pakis-
tani radio that Awami League leader Mujibur Rahman is under
28 MAR 171
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arrest, the army continues to claim that he and several
other League leaders are in military custody.
In addition to the sympathy being expressed by Mrs.
Gandhi and other Indian leaders for the East Pakistanis
and the Bengalis, the Chief of Staff of India's EastennCom-
mand has told a US official in Calcutta that the army is making
contingency plans for intervention in East Pakistan. He
said that, although the army considered such a course "mili-
tarily unfeasible,? it could become "politically necessary."
He also said that he personally believed the army could
easily provide arms, ammunition, and other supplies to the
East Bengalis.
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28 MAR 1971
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SUNDAY CABLE
28 March 71
LAOS
Government forces are attempting to contest the enemy's
control of the high ground overlooking the Luang Prabanb
airfield.
Lao irregular forces are trying to clear enemy units
along the foot of the hill-mass located about five miles
northeast of the capital. One government battalion advanced
onto the high ground during the morning hours of 28 March
and so far has encountered only light enemy resistance.
North Vietnamese forces, however, can be expected to oppose the
new government initiatives.
Morale in the royal capital appears shakey.
the King believes that the North Viet-
namese intend a siege of Luang Prabang and is concerned about
arranging airdrops of food and supplies. The King remains
determined to stay in the capital.
It seems doubtful that the Communists have any intention
of entirely isolating Luang Prabang, much less entering the
town. They may hope, however, to maintain their grip on the
territory surrounding the airfield in order to prevent its
further use as a military base.
28 MAR 1971
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