Nixon Presidential Materials

1971-02-17

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Letter From President Nixon to Pakistani President Yahya, Washington, February 17, 1971

By Richard Nixon

Foreign Relations of the United States
Volume E7
Documents on South Asia, 1969-1972

Source: National Archives, Nixon Presidential Materials,NSC Files, Box 759, Presidential Correspondence File, Pakistan (1971). No classification marking. On February 23 Yahya wrote to Nixonagain and, citing the effects of the prohibition of overflights of Indian territory on contacts between the two wings of Pakistan, reiterated his request that Nixon take a personal interest in the dispute. (Ibid.)



Washington, February 17, 1971

THE WHITE HOUSE

WASHINGTON

February 17, 1971

Dear Mr. President:

Thank you for your message informing me of the situation resulting from the hijacking of an Indian commercial aircraft to Pakistan on January 30. I have also carefully considered your suggestion that our government use its good offices with the Government of India for the purpose of preventing further deterioration of the situation and seeking to restore it to normalcy. These developments are of great concern to me, and I can assure you that I want very much to see this problem resolved and the resultant tension between Pakistan and India reduced.

First, I would emphasize our strong opposition to aircraft hijacking in any form and our desire to curb it through all practical means. I note with satisfaction that your government also deplores the action of the hijackers in this case.

With respect to the use of good offices, we have been discussing this case with the Government of India as we have with representatives of your government. We firmly believe that airline safety requires that all countries of the international community cooperate to strengthen international law and multilateral procedures for deterring aircraft hijacking, a problem which can be effectively dealt with only through a universal international approach. We have put this position to the Government of India, and have advised it as well as your government of the importance of acting in accordance with established international procedures regarding airline safety in seeking solutions to various aspects of this problem. We feel that a multilateral approach offers the best means of moving toward such solutions.

Specifically, I would encourage your government to avail itself of the good offices procedures recently adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization. We have already urged the Government of India to adopt this approach and we believe it would provide a practicable means of resolving these difficulties. Our government stands ready to cooperate in appropriate ways with the Government of Pakistan and the Government of India, and with other nations, in addressing this problem through such a multilateral procedure in the hope of overcoming this point of tension in the Subcontinent.

With warm personal regards,

Sincerely,

Richard Nixon

His Excellency

General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan

President of Pakistan

Islamabad