Delhi, Oct 19
Mrs Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister, today described the situation on the Indo-Pakistan border as a very grave one. She said, however, that India would continue to do everything possible to avoid an armed conflict with Pakistan.

At a crowded press conference in Delhi she said that Pakistan had massed its troops near the border “with the result that, in the interests of our own defence, we have had to look to our interests”.

“We certainly do not want a war ”, she said. “Nor will we do anything to provoke a situation by which a war might develop. But this is not a one-sided matter. You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”

Although she was obviously worried by the developments on the border, she tried to give her appraisal of the situation with restraint. This became apparent when she refused to endorse her own Defence Minister’s warning that India would not withdraw from any Pakistani territory that might be occupied if a war was initialed by President Yahya Khan. “The question is hypothetical,” she said.

Mrs Gandhi went on to reject President Yahya Khan’s suggestion that both sides should withdraw their forces from the border. She also said she believed that no useful purpose would be served if she met the President of Pakistan for peace talks.

The basic problem revolved round the differences between the East and West Pakistanis and it was therefore not an Indo-Pakistan issue, she said. “It seems very simple and plausible to say that Pakistan and India should withdraw their troops, but the situation did not begin a week ago. It has been an escalating situation.” India would have to review any plan for the withdrawal of troops in the context of many factors.

“Pakistani forces have, all along the line, launched a ‘Hate India’ campaign, their call for a jihad [religious war] on the basis of religion. All these things have to be considered.”

Mrs Gandhi said she was not being obdurate in refusing to meet President Yahya, “The question is: What is there to discuss between India and Pakistan? The problem is between the military regime of West Pakistan and the elected representatives of the people of Bangla Desh. Any solution which is found must satisfy these representatives who were elected not so long ago.”

Displaying her resentment at American military aid to Pakistan. Mrs Gandhi said: “As you know, everybody admires our restraint, but, as I said the other day, we get verbal praise and the other side, which is not restrained, gets armed support.”

She also rejected the idea of third party mediation between India and Pakistan. “On what subject will any country mediate”, she said. “I have not been able to understand this. There is a liberation struggle in Bangla Desh. What is the point in mediating with us?

“The problem has to be solved there. We are only concerned because of the atrocities and the fact that 13 per cent of the population of Bangla Desh is now on Indian soil.”

Referring to President Yahya's suggestion that United Nations observers should be posted to establish whether the refugees were being forcibly detained in eastern India, Mrs Gandhi said that she would oppose the plan on principle.

“There is a very great difference as to what is happening on that side of the border in Bangla Desh and our side of the border. We already have 10 representatives from the’United Nations High Commissioner for relief work.”

Fazilka. Punjab. Oct 19.—A steady stream of carts drawn by camels, oxen or tractors trundled through here today carrying families away from the border between India and West Pakistan.

Officials and villagers said no general evacuation had been ordered and there was no sign of panic. Nevertheless, about 25 per cent of Fazilka's population of 40,000 is estimated to have left.

Rawalpindi. Oct. 19.—Pakistan has warned India that its air force will take “appropriate action” if Indian aircraft continue to violate Pakistan's air space.

A telegram sent by Air Marshal A. Rahim, Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Air Force, to his Indian counterpart said; “Indian aircraft have been violating air space over both wings of Pakistan for some time. Lately such air violations have 'become more frequent, deliberate, and provocative.” —Reuter.