From Independence to Political Settlement

From Independence to Political Settlement G S Bhargava THE Prime Minister's current tour of Western countries marks another phase in India's diplomatic efforts to find a 'political' solution to the Bangla Desh crisis. II some Indian political commentators are to be believed, everything now hinges on President Nixon. He has only to .snap his fingers, plug the built-in loopholes in the US Administration's suspension of military supplies to Pakistan, go along with the other members of the Aid Pakistan Consortium in re- !using credits to that country and publicly admonish the Yahya regime for its brutalities in Bangla Desh. Cumulatively these steps are expected to chasten Yahya Khan to .such an extent that he will at once release Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and begin negotiations with him lor 'a political solution acceptable to the elected representatives of East Bengal'. And so Bangla Desh will come into being, the refugees will troop back, the Mukti Bahini will be reintegrated into die country's defence forces and everyone will be happy ever alter.