Observer (London)

Bombay, March 26. India’s sympathy for the people of East Pakistan in their fight against the West Pakistani Army was voiced in the Indian Parliament today by the leaders of the Opposition parties. But the Government chose to remain silent. Some MPs wanted Mrs. Gandhi to seek United Nations intervention because of the killings. Others said that India should persuade Ceylon to deny West Pakistan transit facilities to transport troops to the Eastern wing. Most Indians have always regarded East Bengal’s struggle for autonomy as just. But barring an extremist fringe nobody in India wanted Pakistan to break into two or fall into anarchy. For secession can be contagious and has to be discouraged. Nevertheless as seen from New Delhi the responsibility for the Pakistani crisis belongs to hawks in the army and the Civil service who made responsible for President Yahya to arrive at a compromise with Sheikh Mujib.

After Yahya’s breach of faith with Mujib, the Awami League leader and his followers have no option but to resist the West Pakistani Army or be crushed. India can thus be placed in a delicate and embarrassing position should Mujib decide to call upon his neighbours for help. To intervene in Pakistani affair would go against the foundation of Indian policy and would risk inviting Chinese intervention not only in East Bengal but also perhaps in Kashmir. On the other hand, to sit idly by while many East Pakistanis are being killed would be a sure way of forfeiting the considerable good-will which East Bengal, unlike West Pakistan, has for India.

Among the confusing reports circulating, it was alleged that Pakistani troops had crossed the frontier and entered Indian territory in Tripura. But the military authorities in Calcutta and New Delhi immediately denied this report.