1971-12-07
By Reuters
Page: 1
PAKISTAN SEVERS TIES WITH INDIANS
Action Follows New Delhi's Recognition of Bengalis -Air Clashes Continue
RAWALPINDI, Pakistan, Dec. 6—Pakistan broke diplomatic relations with India today as the air war between the two countries continued and the Pakistani Army reported successes on both the eastern and western fronts.
A spokesman said 81 Indian planes had been shot down. The Army reported it was consolidating its gains in the west and its positions in the east. The Pakistan radio said that the Pakistani Army was in full control of East Pakistan except for “a few salients here and there.”
Pakistan broke relations with India after New Delhi recognized the government of Bangla Desh in East Pakistan and an official Pakistani announcement said that the Indian recognition “was motivated by a deep hatred of Pakistan.” Pakistan did not break relations with India during their previous wars, in 1948 and 1965.
A Pakistani spokesman said that during the night the Air Force raided 10 Indian airfields along the West Pakistan border and also attacked an Indian Navy missile boat in the Gulf of Cutch.
He said the main war activity today was in the air, and he reported a major air battle in progress over Zafarwal in the Sialkot sector of West Pakistan.
The fight developed, he said, as planes of both air forces arrived to support their troops in ground fighting and two Indian Air Force planes were shot down in the area by ground fire.
The spokesman said the Indian Air Force raided Sargodha, Murid, Shorkot and Mian Wali air bases but caused no damage. Three Indian Canberra bombers were reported shot down in these raids.
The Pakistan radio said that the 10 Indian air bases raided during the night were at Amritsar, Pathankot, Jammu, Srinagar, Bhuj, Jamnagar, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner and Utarlai.
A Pakistani Army spokesman said soldiers in the West were consolidating their gains. He said Pakistani ground forces had repulsed an Indian division attacking the Lahore sector.