1971-04-04
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KARACHI, PAKISTAN, April 3.-Pakistan charges that Indian warships shadowed and harassed a Pakistani merchant vessel in the Indian Ocean last night were accompanied by a strong new protest today to New Delhi.
The protest was the second made during the day to the Indian Government by the Pakistani administration at Islamabad, the capital. The first voiced a vigorous objection to the passing of a r solution by the Indian Parliament Wednesday expressing Indian solidarity with the secessionist movement in East Pakistan.
It warned that serious consequences" could result from the Indian action, which was described as grave interference in Pakistan Internal affairs.
The first protest was delivered by a Pakistani foreign Ministry official for relay to New Delhi through the Indian High Commissioner in Islamabad. The second was in the form of a public statement.
The protest concerning the ship in the Indian Ocean charged that four Indian warships had harassed and tried to halt a Pakistani merchant ship the Ocean Endurance sailing on a recognized International sea lane 70 miles west of the Indian naval base at Dwarka. Pakistan demanded assurances that such incidents would not be repeated. The statement said that the Pakistani Government was taking all necessary measures to Insure the safety of its merchant ships on the high seas.