Foreign Relations of the United States, 1969–1976, Volume XI, South Asia Crisis, 1971
Document 166
166. Telegram From
the Consulate General in Karachi
to
the Department of State
1
Karachi
,
October 11, 1971, 1344Z
.
2029. From Chargé. Subject: Pres.
Yahya
on
Mujib
and on Talks With
BD
Leadership. Ref: Karachi 2028.
2
1.
After introducing subject of
Mujib
in connection with proposed
GOP
direct discussions with
BD
leadership (
reftel
), I recalled to Pres
Yahya
during conversation Oct 11 his recent talks with Amb
Farland
regarding
Mujib
. I referred specifically to possibility of
Mujib
ʼs serving as “trump card” and asked whether he might tell me anything further in that regard.
Yahya
noted that
Mujib
ʼs trial was still going on. If he were convicted, court would sentence him to punishment which would conceivably be death. Matter would then come before
Yahya
who had presidential power to modify courtʼs judgement. As he had already told us, he did not intend to permit any death sentence to be carried out. With early formation of civilian government, that government (which would presumably have East Pak majority) would then have task of dealing with
Mujib
ʼs future.
2.
I said there were obvious problems but asked whether there was possibility of
Yahya
ʼs revealing anything of his thinking along above lines to larger audience before too long.
Mujib
ʼs role seemed to be a crucial issue, for example, with regard initiation any direct talks between
GOP
and
BD
leadership. I recalled that
Yahya
had told us he is prepared have
GOP
participate in such talks. We have recent indications that various pressures on
BD
leadership in Calcutta have inhibited any progress toward initiating talks, and one of their primary concerns seems to be that
Mujib
should have role.
3.
Yahya
responded that there were limits on his freedom of action. He pointed to predominant West Pak public opinion damning
Mujib
, and opined that not a single West Pak political leader would welcome an act to free
Mujib
and negotiate with him. Even the East Pak political chiefs with whom he has been talking in recent months, including respected elder leader Nurul Amin, had raised specter of return to pre-March situation which they said would result in terrible violence among East Pakistanis. As for himself,
Yahya
went on, if he now indicated that
Mujib
should be pardoned, people will ask why there had had to be so much sorrow and trouble and would raise question

why
Yahya
should remain in office. Personally he did not hanker for power, but he had duty to deal with critical problems which his country faced.
Yahya
added he is not a ruthless person but a normal human being. He has no personal rancor against
Mujib
but he cannot disregard facts of recent history.
4.
This portion of our conversation was conducted with no indication of any annoyance on
Yahya
ʼs part that he was being pressed on what is perhaps most highly sensitive issue facing him in eyes of world opinion. On contrary he responded calmly in stating pressures weighing on him and his rationale for current stance. He appeared to wish leave impression he was man with rather little choice but to do what he is doing.
Raynolds
Contents
Preface
Sources
Abbreviations