As the defeat of Pakistani seemed evident in the first week of December 1971 despite being assisted by its allies, military ruler General AM Yahya Khan demanded that the United Nations engage observers to see that the cease-fire was maintained.
He also said that India and Pakistan should agree to an immediate cease-fire with the separate armed forces "standing fast".
India and Pakistan should “at any effective level immediately open negotiations aimed at a settlement of the war and troop withdrawal,” Gen Yahya told Ambassador to Pakistan Joseph S Farland on December 10.
Both the countries should simultaneously enter into negotiations looking towards the political satisfaction of Bengali aspirations, i.e., a political settlement, Gen Yahya said.
The same day, US President Richard Nixon wrote to Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev, stating that the situation was constantly deteriorating. He added that the concerns raised by the Soviets concerning the political evolution of East Pakistan “appear to be being met”.
If the cease-fire in the West “does not take place, we would have to conclude that there is in progress an act of aggression directed at the whole of Pakistan, a friendly country toward which we have obligations”, said Nixon.
“I therefore propose an immediate joint appeal for a complete cease-fire. Meanwhile, I urge you in the strongest terms to restrain India with which, by virtue of your treaty, you have great influence and for whose actions you must share responsibility,” he added.
The Soviet proposal also called for negotiations between Gen Yahya's government and East Pakistani leaders concerning a political settlement in East Pakistan.
Nixon's Assistant for National Security Affairs Henry Kissinger sent a backchannel message to Farland the same day, asking him to ensure that the Pakistan government refrained from making additional proposals until the US had an opportunity to move within the framework.
“President [Nixon] has made the strongest démarche to the Soviets and included warning to them that we have obligations towards Pakistan which will not permit aggression against West Pakistan.
“President added that should Indian offensive be launched in the West, with Soviet acquiescence, a US/Soviet confrontation would ensue,” Kissinger wrote.
