Moscow, July 15
The Soviet Union is making almost superhuman efforts to maintain an appearance of neutrality in the present crisis of Indo-Pakistan relations. While generally more favourable towards India, the Russians have been slower to condemn President Yahya Khan's policies in East Pakistan than the western press.

The Soviet public has not been told of mass atrocities in East Pakistan. For weeks the Russians have clung to reiteration of President Podgorny’s message to President Yahya last April, in which he merely expressed serious concern al the situation and at the Pakistan Government’s acts.

Moscow's more recent pronouncements have briefly noted the breakdown of public order in East Pakistan, and the refugee problem, but they have by no means condemned the actions of the Pakistan authorities out of hand.

At the same time, the Russians have been at pains to convince Indian diplomats of their good intentions. They have sent India special aid, such as shipments of rice unofficially estimated at some $10m (about £4m) as well as air transport for refugees, and Indian diplomats in Moscow seem satisfied with the Soviet approach.

It is noted, however, that the Soviet desire to maintain overall neutrality in the Indo-Pakistan conflict has led Moscow to adopt political positions which could easily be misunderstood in India, in spite of the desire to keep up good political relations with Delhi.

It is unusual for Pravda to attack the Indian press, as it did today in an article criticizing The Statesman for anti-Soviet views, and particularly for a report that Russia was supplying arms to Pakistan.

Indian circles in Moscow observe that Pravda made special mention of the visit to India by Dr Henry Kissinger, President Nixon's special adviser, and that Soviet comments have laid great emphasis on the question of American arms supplies to Pakistan.

A senior British diplomat remarked recently that the Soviet attitude towards the Indo-Pakistan crisis was “statesmanlike”, and not unlike that of Britain. In other words. Russia sees a delicate political balance in the sub-continent which it is not in favour of disturbing, if it can possibly be preserved.

Any active American support of Pakistan will be seen in Moscow as a reckless move, and a speculation on the possibility of embarrassing the Soviet Union by further polarization of the conflict in the area.

China’s eventual role in this issue is also an important consideration for the Russians, and American sympathy towards Pakistan would be regarded as “another” United States attempt to exacerbate Soviet-Chinese relations.