1971-06-18
By Reuters
TRANSCRIPT: (SEQ. 4): HOSEIN ALI: "We had our difficulties of course, because after all, we had to fight an organised army, an (INDISTINCT) army, an army which was equipped with the most modern weapons, but we have crystallised our resistance. Freedom fighters are being paid, they are getting their equipment, they are coming in large numbers. We do not have the sources, the training facilities, the arms, to look after all those. But we are increasing our resistance, our freedom fighters are being (INDISTINCT) and our action is increasing, and we hope that we shall be able to harass the enemy by disrupting communications, by killing them as much as we could, they are (INDISTINCT) they are panicky, they live in cantonments and fortified cities and towns, they are afraid to come out except in strength. They are panicky, and we hope that we will be able to drive them out, or to at least bring them to a state where they will have to think of going out."
Initials BB/0310 RR/DW/BB/0328
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Background: Bangla Desh leader--former officials of Sheikh Mujib's Awami League party in East Pakistan--who fled to India after Sheikh Mujib's arrest by President Yahya Khan's troops, are operating in exile from headquarters in Calcutta.
The head of this mission is Mr. Hosein Ali, who was formerly Pakistan's Deputy High Commissioner in India. He defected from service to the Pakistan Government following the outbreak of Yahya Kahan's military actions in East Pakistan. In a statement made from his Calcutta headquarters, he described the current background to Bangle Desh operations against the Pakistan Army. He spoke of their difficulties in fighting an organised, better equipped force, but said that Bangle Desh harassing tactics are making the Army frightened of leaving their fortified bases except in strength. He said it was the hope of the Bangla Desh to bring the Pakistani Army to a state where they would have to consider pulling out.