1971-12-09
Page: 15
NEW DELHI, Dec. 8—India has offered to allow helicopters to evacuate about 150 United Nations employes from East Pakistan, since the Dacca Airport is “unserviceable,” a spokesman said today.
He said a United Nations representative in New Delhi, John McDiarmed, had been told by the Defense Ministry to obtain permission of the “occupation forces” of East Pakistan to allow a helicopter to ferry the group to Calcutta. If one helicopter is not enough, India is ready to help with another helicopter of the Indian Air Force “if the Pakistanis would permit,” the spokesman said.
On Monday, a United Nations plane was turned back when approaching the Dacca airport. A United Nations official in New York said that an Indian aircraft had fired at the plane. The Indian spokesman denied the allegation, saying that the plane could not land because a burning Pakistani Sabre Jet was blocking the runways.
The spokesman read a statement made by the pilot of the plane at Bangkok airport saying that no gunfire had hit his plane.