Yahya’s ousting likely

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32788, 13 December 1971, Page 17

Yahya’s ousting likely

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright! ISLAMABAD (Pakistan), December 12. The fall of East Pakistan to the Indian Army will mean the end of General Agha Mohammed Yahya Khan as President of Pakistan, Western and Asian diplomats in Islamabad believe.

One Western diplomat with long experience in the subcontinent said that the upheaval after the loss of East Pakistan would mean the ousting of President Yahya for a military-civilian combination. He predicted that it would be led by the newlyappointed Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, head of the Leftist People’s Party, Lieutenant-General S. G. M. M. Peerzada, aged 53, the President’s principal staff officer and virtual Prime Minister of the military government, and LieutenantGeneral Gul Hasan Khan, aged 51, chief of the General Staff. Both generals were believed to be friendly with Mr Bhutto. Most diplomats believed that the fall of East Pakistan would occur before the beginning of the New Year. “One of Yahya’s mistakes was putting in his best troops,” said ah Asian ambassador. “Now they are tired and disgusted.” After nearly nine months duty in the east, nearly 75,000 troops Were cut off because of the disruption of the air service with West Pakistan, 1000 miles west by air . and 3000 miles by sea through an Indian naval blockade. Most of the troops were from West Pakistan. "Almost every family in the West has a relative there,” said the diplomat, trying to explain the root of what he called growing i resentment against President Yahya for not providing, an exit route for his troops.

Pakistan is. unable to supply the troops in the East with ammunition and food.

“I think we’ll be glad the Indian Army is in the East,” toe diplomat added. “Bengali

civilians will tty to massacre toe Pakistan Army.” Diplomats believed that toe Pakistani strategy at toe onset of the fighting was to seize enough of Indian-held Kashmir along the frontier With West Pakistan to use it as a counter in negotiating for the return of East Pakistan.