Delhi, Nov. 5. In an atmosphere charged with war hysteria it was learnt today that the Soviet Air Force suddenly began to ferry a large quantity of arms, including missiles, and an unspecified number of Russian instructors to India. At the same time Pakistan radio reported today that the West Pakistani leader, Mr. Z. A. Bhutto, and the country’s Service chiefs have flown to Peking to meet Chinese leaders for urgent consultations. According to sources in the Indian capital at least 12 transport aircraft have landed at Bombay and Delhi during the past four days, loaded with military equipment.

It is understood that the Soviet aircraft might be carrying the advanced versions of surface-to-air missiles. A large number of Russian military instructors have also arrived by air in India. It is believed that the military equipment arriving by air is primarily meant for training purposes. A Russian ship with a consignment of missiles and other arms is already sailing towards India, a highly placed Indian source indicated today. The sudden decision to step up Soviet military aid to India was preceded last week by a visit to Delhi by Marshal Kutakov, commander in chief of the Soviet Air Force. According to Indian officials Marshall Kutakov appeared to be satisfied with the capability of the Indian Air Force and India can expect to receive as much military assistance as it requires.

Peking, Nov. 5. Mr. Bhutto arrived here today as the personal representative of President Yahya Khan for talks with the Chinese Government that informed sources here said would deal mainly with the tension between India and Pakistan. Mr. Chou En-lai, the Prime Minister, had a first round of talks here tonight with the Pakistani delegation only three hours after its arrival. Observers noted that the talks were held almost immediately after the arrival of the Pakistani party, which seemed to indicate a Chinese wish to be informed of the situation on the Indian subcontinent before the Chinese delegation leaves for the United Nations general assembly.

Mr. Bhutto, a former Foreign Minister, who is heading a large delegation of political and military leaders, was welcomed at the airport by Mr. Chi Peng-Fei, the acting Foreign Minister. His surprise visit is expected to last until Monday, informed sources said, noting that his talks would be the most important since President Yahya was here exactly one year ago. Chinese views on the Indo-Pakistan crisis were summed up by the slogan brandished by the 2,000 people at the airport which hailed “the unity between the Afro-Asian people” and expressed “support for the Pakistani people in their struggle to protect their independence against aggression and interference from abroad.” The first was seen here as demonstrating China’s wish to avoid a new conflict in Asia, and the second as recalling the special ties between China and Pakistan.

None of the three military leaders accompanying Mr. Bhutto and Sultan Muhamed Khan, the Foreign Minister, was in uniform. They were Air Marshall Ramin Khan, Rear Admiral Rashid, Navy Chief of Staff, and Lieutenant-General Gul Hassan, Army Chief of Staff. Reliable sources said that during the coming discussions China would seek to encourage dialogue between Pakistan and India, while maintaining its support for Pakistan.

Fred Emery writes from Washington: President Nixon and Mrs. Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister, today had a second round of discussions on the risks of war between India and Pakistan. Though nothing emerged to suggest there had been any accommodation of diverging views. Informed sources reported that Mrs. Gandhi firmly resisted Mr. Nixon’s suggestion that there should be reciprocal troop withdrawal from frontiers. Indian officials say that Mrs. Gandhi has come in search of nothing more than understanding, but that is everything. Her public utterances continue to emphasise that India will not be equated on a par with Pakistan, and this certainly has been the theme of recent American policy.