1971-11-26
By Malcolm W. Browne
Page: 4
TAXILA, Pakistan, Nov. 25 —President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan inaugurated a Chinese‐built heavy‐machinery plant here today with a renewed warning of the danger of full war between Pakistan and India.
In response, the head of a large Chinese delegation attending the ceremony reiterated China's general backing of Pakistan against outside aggression. But as always, the Chinese pledge was in general terms and did not refer to any specific military commitment.
No new fighting was reported by Pakistan's military spokesman in Rawalpindi today and the daily war briefing for newsmen was canceled without explanation.
However, authorities began enforcing the wartime dimout decree in the capital, Islamabad, and in other major West Pakistani cities. Residents were required to keep their windows tightly curtained at night.
“We wish to avoid a conflagration in the subcontinent but the situation created by Indian aggression is leading the two countries to the point of no return,” said President Yahya. “I would like to make it absolutely clear that we shall defend our honor and our territorial integrity with all the forces at our command.”
The Taxila plant is scheduled to produce eventually 4,000 tons of steel ingots and 45,000 tons of iron castings a year.
China has built armament factories in both East and West Pakistan and the Chinese version of the Soviet Union's AK‐47 assault rifle as manufactured in Pakistan is a basic infantry weapon of Pakistan's army.