Shortly before the surrender of the Pakistani forces in
Dacca, capital of emerging "Bangladesh," the commander
of Indian forces in the eastern region said of the West
Pakistani troops: "They are very gallant fighters with
good discipline. But there is no hope for them. The
people are against them."

That is the hard reality in East Bengal that no amount
of military courage and determination on the part of
West Pakistan could change. It is a reality with which
peacemakers must now deal a reality which must finally
be faced in Islamabad-and in Washington.

In their own stubborn and expanding resistance over the
last eight months and in the wildly enthusiastic welcome
they have given to their Indian "liberators the people
of East Bengal have made unmistakably clear their
determination no longer to be dominated by their Moslem
brothers from the West.

The division of Pakistan has only been accelerated by
India's unseemly military intervention. The separation
of East Pakistan from the West, rooted in geography,
history and culture, had already been made irrevocable
by the brutal military crackdown which Islamabad
initiated last March 25, dissolving the bonds of Islamic
brotherhood in blood.

Having forced the issue, India has a heavy
responsibility now to move swiftly toward a magnanimous
peace. New Delhi's unilateral declaration of a cease-
fire on the western front and the pledges of Indian and
Bengali leaders of protection for the defeated foe are
welcome initiatives in this direction. It is
particularly important for India and for the future of
the entire region that these pledges be strictly honored
to avert any further bloodbaths and that Indian troops
be withdrawn from East Bengal as quickly as possible.

President Yahya Khan's stubborn call for continuing war
is a self-defeating prescription for more bloodshed,
destruction and division throughout the subcontinent. It
is time for new leaders to come forward in Islamabad who
will end the fighting and open a dialogue with India and
with the elected leaders of East Bengal, including the
imprisoned Sheik Mujibur Rahman.

In this connection, there may be some encouragement in a
remark made here this week by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto,
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister of Pakistan and the
leading civilian politician in West Pakistan. "I think
the secessionist leaders will find it in their interest
not to close the door on Pakistan," he said. "They will
want to talk with both India and Pakistan." It is in the
best interest of all three parties to begin talking with
each other in order to open doors that have been too
long closed by communal animosities and war, and to form
new ties that are essential for a peaceful and
prosperous subcontinent.