Delhi, July 6
The French Government has informed India that arms supplies to Pakistan have been banned, and contracts which were ratified in the past will not be honoured, Mr Swaran Singh, the Indian Foreign Minister, said today.

Mr Singh told Parliament that the Indian Government had been informed that France had continued to supply arms to Pakistan in spite of the world’s reaction and had recently lodged a protest with the French Government.

“We expressed our grave concern to the French Ambassador and were informed that France had decided to discontinue arms to Pakistan after March 25”, the Foreign Minister said. He declared that the French Government had informed India late last month that even contracts signed before March 25 would not be honoured.

Mr Singh denied allegations that the Soviet Union was still supplying arms to Pakistan. He said that the Soviet Ambassador had assured him that Moscow had cut off military aid to Pakistan since March. In reply to attacks on the Soviet Union by the right wing, the Foreign Minister said that President Podgorny had been the first world leader to condemn the atrocities committed in East Pakistan.

Dr Henry Kissinger, President Nixon’s national security adviser, who arrived in Delhi today for talks with Mrs Gandhi and other Indian leaders, was greeted by anti-American demonstrations at Palam Airport.

The demonstrators were communists and members of the ruling Congress Party who condemned the United States for supplying arms to Pakistan.

Dr Kissinger met Mrs Gandhi's principal secretary, Mr P. N Haksar. today and dined with General Manekshaw. commander-in-chief of the Indian Army. He will meet Mrs Gandhi. Mr Jagjivan Ram, the Defence Minister. and Mr Swaran Singh tomorrow.

It is understood that Mr Haksar told Dr Kissinger that the massive influx of refugees had posed a grave threat to India’s economy and social fabric.

Our Calcutta Correspondent writes :

The influx of refugees from East Bengal shows no signs of abating. During the past fortnight more than half a million have crossed into West Bengal’s Bongaon area alone.

Now that there is often very heavy monsoon rain the condition of the refugees, particularly of those without shelter, is even more pitiable than before.