Delhi. Oct 24
Mr Nikolai Firyubin, a Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister, who has been sent to Delhi by the Kremlin to try to ease the tension on the Indo-Pakistan border, is today meeting the leaders of the Awami League to persuade them to accept autonomy for Bangla Desh within a single Pakistan.

The main objective of his visit is to get the Government in exile to scale down its demand for independence. His unexpected arrival in Delhi on Friday evening is seen as an indication of the Soviet Union’s increasing concern that India and Pakistan may go to war.

Mr Firyubin is meeting Mr Tajuddin, the Bangla Desh Prime Minister and 3 close aide of the imprisoned Shaikh Mujibur Rahman, and Mr Alam, the Foreign Minister. The Soviet peacemaker is due to leave India tomorrow.

India insists on a settlement acceptable to the Awami league, while President Yahya Khan of Pakistan has condemned Shaikh Mujib as a traitor.