Five days after the launch of “Operation Searchlight” in East Pakistan, military strongman General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan wrote a letter to US President Richard Nixon to describe the events of March 1971.
Gen Yahya defended the crackdown on the Bengalis that led to one of the world's major genocidal incidents in history, with thousands of people being killed indiscriminately, the focus being on Awami League supporters, students, Hindus and Bengali police personnel in Dhaka in just a few days.
He claimed he had taken measures since the general elections in December 1970 towards the restoration of democratic processes through elected representatives of the people.
The letter reached the White House on March 31, according to declassified documents from the State Department.
Gen Yahya said: “I had hoped that these discussions would lead to a broad political agreement regarding the convening of the National Assembly and framing of a constitution.
“Unfortunately, however, the political leadership in East Pakistan and especially Sheikh Mujibur Rahman took a progressively rigid stand which made such an agreement impossible. Meanwhile, murder, arson and widespread disorder in defiance of governmental authority were let loose in the province.”
He claimed he had exercised “utmost restraint and patience and tried to evolve a generally acceptable formula to resolve constitutional difficulties. In pursuit of the same objective, I went personally to East Pakistan to hold consultations with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Even while I was there, the Awami League leaders continued to make statements and indulge in practices which clearly showed that they were not prepared for pursuing a compromise.”
He claimed that the last round of talks in Dhaka had left him in no doubt that the Awami League leader had no intention of accepting any constitutional formula which would ensure the integrity and unity of the country.
The military ruler said that the Awami League had put forward final proposals, which virtually amounted to the dismemberment of the country.
“Since they had no such mandate from the people and as the unity of the country was at stake, firm action had to be taken to assert the government's authority and to safeguard the integrity of Pakistan. There was no option but to take that decision (launching Operation Searchlight),” Yahya wrote.
The letter stated that the situation in East Pakistan was well under control and that normal life was being restored. “Accounts to the contrary circulated by some outside sources, especially from news media, do not reflect the correct position and are designed to mislead world public opinion.”
He also alleged that the Indian attitude was causing him grave concern. The public statements by Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, and other important leaders regarding developments in East Pakistan constituted a “clear interference in our internal affairs. A dangerous precedent is thus being set by India which is of direct concern to the international community.”
Gen Yahya noted with serious concern the “deployment of nearly six divisions of the Indian Army not too far from the borders of East Pakistan. The composition of these forces which include artillery regiments and parachute brigades has no relevance to the needs of internal security in West Bengal or to the requirements of Indian elections which ended three weeks ago. This concentration of Indian forces on our borders constitutes a direct threat to our security.”
Finally, he urged Nixon to consider the “desirability of expressing your support for the forces of peace and stability in this region and of impressing upon Indian leaders the paramount need for refraining from any action that might aggravate the situation and lead to irretrievable consequences.”