Over-simplification in Pakistan
From Mr James Tinn. Labour MP for Cleveland.
Sir, As one of the three Members of Parliament who have just returned from Pakistan may I put my personal impressions before your readers?

Our visit was, as promised, without strings and we went wherever we chose without restriction. Critics of the Pakistan Government may have been cautious about being seen talking to us but nevertheless they did so and we also talked to many Europeans. The authorities did all we could wish to assist.

As a result I have no doubt that the Army committed acts which we would condemn and there was a state of fear among many people. Yahya Khan defends his army’s “tough” action because of the circumstances as he saw them but is, I believe, genuinely anxious to restore normality and civil government despite some pressures on him to maintain military rule.

I also saw and heard what I regard as convincing evidence of savage acts committed by the other side, it is an over simplification to regard it as a purely religious struggle since many of these were committed by Bengali Muslims against non-Bengali Muslim. Incidentally, the Pakistan Government has done its best to suppress such reports in the West Pakistan press because of the risk of reprisals against minorities there. There have been no such reprisals. Much blame for the tragic loss of life lies, in my opinion, on both sides but it is grossly unfair to put all the responsibility on one side.

Although it may be unpopular here to say so, I was frankly impressed by Yahya Khan’s forthright personality but oven more by his record of deeds up to the breakdown of talks. Throughout he has worked to restore civil government. He held free elections and instituted for the first time the principle of one man one vote which gave Shaikh Mujib hits majority and the opportunity for a fairer deal for East Pakistan. After the election he referred to Shaikh Mujib as the next Prime Minister of Pakistan and accepted the six point programme on which his party had fought the election and which would have given East Pakistan autonomy with the central government led by Shaikh Mujib, retaining control of defence and foreign affairs. Trade unionists and others to whom I talked confirmed that secession was no part of the Awami League programme for which many of them had voted.

Without saying a word in defence of anyone on either side who committed atrocities, I put a heavy responsibility on the politicians concerned, particularly Shaikh Mujib and Mr Bhutto, for failing to measure up to the opportunity and the challenge presented to them. It was this failure, I believe, which set the stage for all that followed. The best hope for the future, and it is a slim one, lies in Yahya Khan's determination that normality can only follow and not precede a return to civil government. The way ahead will be difficult enough but much blame will attach to anyone inside or outside Pakistan who makes it even more difficult.
Yours sincerely.
JAMES TINN
House of Commons, SW1.
July 1.

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From Dr Tim Lasty
Sir, I have recently returned from West Bengal where I was working for Oxfam. Apart from the tragedy of four and a half million homeless people, one of the main impressions I have is of the magnificent way in which the Indian Government is handling 95 per cent of relief.

Whether one blames Yahya Khan or the Awami League, one thing is certain: the problem was not of India’s making. Yet she, a poor country, is spending a half to a million pounds daily. Against this the 15 million promised by the UN looks ridiculous.

If we as a nation made a gift of 100 million pounds it would hardly affect our economy. But in the third world, on whose troubled waters there is many a fisherman but little bread, such an act would not pass unnoticed.
Yours faithfully.
TIM LUSTY.
Upper Whitley Farm,
Cumnor. Oxford.