The Role of Nixon-Kissinger in the 1971 Pakistani War Crimes Against Bangladesh Dr. Nuran Nabi In 1972, Dr. Henry Kissinger, the National Security Adviser to then US President Richard Nixon, called Bangladesh a “basket with a hole.” Even more shocking was that President Nixon and Kissinger were silent when the Pakistani Army and their local collaborators killed three million people, raped thousands of Bengali women, and forced about ten million people to flee their homeland to take refuge in neighboring India. Neither President Nixon nor his administration or the US congress condemned the Pakistani military’s war crimes in Bangladesh; in fact, they didn’t take any initiative to stop it. The book The Role of NixonKissinger in the 1971 Pakistani War Crimes Against Bangladesh by Dr. Nuran Nabi details the role played by the USA, Soviet Union, China, India, and Pakistan during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The book reveals many previously unknown facts: the story of why Nixon and Kissinger opposed the independence of Bangladesh, why they did not condemn the war crimes of Pakistanis in Bangladesh, why they did not take any initiative to stop war crimes, why these two leaders got angry after receiving the famous
50
to learn of the news of the massacre. He sent the details of the genocide to the US State Department in two confidential telegrams known as “Selective Genocide” and “Blood Telegraph.” Nixon and Kissinger took these telegrams personally and viewed them as a challenge to openly oppose the government policy. The two leaders were so angry with Mr. Blood that they decided to transfer him from Dhaka overnight.
“Blood Telegram” from American Consul General in Dhaka. Nixon and Kissinger have opposed Bangladesh’s independence since the beginning of the Liberation War. They have shamelessly supported the war crimes of Pakistanis such as genocide, rape, and arson, creating refugee problems in Bangladesh. On the night of March 25, 1971, the Pakistani army launched a vicious attack on the unarmed Bengalis, starting genocide. US State Department Consul General Archer Blood based in Dhaka was shocked
However, on a positive note, the Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, personally worked for the independence of Bangladesh. In addition to the support of her government, she personally made whirlwind visits from one capital to another campaigning for the release of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, widely known as Bangabandhu, and the independence of Bangladesh. Apart from training the freedom fighters, India also helped with arms and ammunition and sheltered ten million refugees. Without India’s help and sympathy, millions of refugees would have died of starvation and disease. India recognizes the Provisional Government of Bangladesh, spreads the news of the
MAY 2022 - WWW.DESHVIDESH.COM
