WASHINGTON, Dec. 3—The United States announced today that it had canceled remaining export licenses for military and other sensitive equipment for India because of “continuing Indian incursions into Pakistan.”
Charles W. Bray 3d, the State Department spokesman, said in response to questions that because of the deteriorating situation, $11.3‐million worth of spare parts for aircraft and electronic and communications equipment could not now be shipped to India.
Defense Department and other official sources said that the actual value of the equipment for which specific contracts had been let was approximately $3.3‐million. They stressed that the United States action affected only licenses—not deliveries—and that there would be no attempt to turn around ships at sea carrying equipment to India.
Two days ago the United States announced that it had canceled $3‐million worth of licenses for ammunition, cartridges and ammunition manufacturing equipment. Today's action additionally bars India from acquiring any military or other defense‐related items on the United. States munitions list, a comprehensive list of several thousand items over which the State Department has primary responsibility.
The United States announced Nov. 6 that it had decided to cancel all outstanding arms export licenses for Pakistan. About $3‐million in licenses were affected although $160,000 in spare parts, which had been held up by the dock strike, were permitted to go.
Envoy Criticizes U.S.
Diplomats and other informants suggested today that the United States ban on further shipments of electronic and communications equipment to India might affect the United States‐Indian monitoring and radar projects in the Himalayan region on the Nepal‐Tibet border.
After the 1962 Indian‐China war, the United States began helping India build radar air defenses — known as Project Star Sapphire—to warn of impending Chinese air attacks. The United States has also supplied India with a small number of technical advisers to help India electronically monitor developments in China, such as Chinese nuclear tests at Lop Nor in China's Sinkiang province.
A senior Administration official said, “We've taken full account of the consequences. President Nixon and his advisers have been over this very carefully.”
Lakshmi Kant Jha, the Indian Ambassador, said the United States had acted with “alacrity” in cutting off all defense supplies to India. He said, the Administration took “many months” to halt defense supplies to Pakistan.
Speaking at a news conference in the Indian Embassy, Mr. Jha, who has just returned from New Delhi, said that India has “nothing to gain” by war with Pakistan and wants “neither Pakistani territory or people.”
Opposes U.N. Debate
He said that India has opposed taking the issue to the United Nations Security Council because India believes the representatives of the insurgent Bengali movement in East Pakistan must be represented as “victims of aggression.” United Nations procedures would bar the representatives, he said, because Pakistan says that the civil strife in East Pakistan is an “internal” matter.
Nawabzada Agha Mohammad Raza, the Pakistani Ambassador, accused India today of launching “all‐out war” on his country. Mr. Raza, who also held a news conference here, said that his Government had informed the United Nations that it would accept “any independent observers” on its territory.
Mr. Raza said: “I appeal to our American friends to stand by us.”
In response to questions, he barred any possibility of negotiations between President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan and Sheik Mujibur Rahman, the leader of the banned Awami League, the East Pakistani party that pressed first for virtual autonomy and later for independence from West Pakistan. Mr. Raza said that Sheik Mujib had been plotting with India in 1968 but had been pardoned. Now, he said, Sheik Mujib is “on trial.”
Mr. Raza also said that Pakistan had twice offered, in response to recent pleas from President Nixon, to withdraw her forces from, front‐line positions but on condition that India do likewise.
The Pakistani envoy said that Pakistan had sought United States “guarantees,” but, following a whispered discussion with an aide, he corrected himself to say that Pakistan had asked only for unspecified “guarantees” that” if Pakistan withdrew first, India would follow suit. India refused both times, he said.
U.S. Information Scanty
United States officials, who asked not to be identified, said that the United States Government is receiving scanty and sometimes conflicting information about the Indian‐Pakistan situation.
“It's hard to believe Indian reports about those Pakistan air attacks” said one official. “The airfields reportedly hit are not logical targets. There just aren't that many Indian planes on them—unless they've all been moved up very recently. As for what's happening on the ground—we just don't know.”
Mr. Jha said that domestic pressures are growing in India for early recognition of Bangla Desh (Bengal Nation), a term used by those fighting for independence in East Pakistan.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and other Indian leaders are now publicly using the term Bangla Desh rather than East Pakistan. Mr. Jha stressed, however, that India has not accorded any recognition.