RAWALPINDI: The People’s Party may find it difficult to obtain unqualified support of the National Awami Party — particularly, in NWFP and Baluchistan… . The NAP is apparently unhappy over the appointment of Mr Ghaus Bakhsh Raisani as the Governor of Baluchistan. The NAP chief, Khan Abdul Wali Khan, told newsmen here today [Dec 28] that … he has not yet decided to allow two of his MNAs to join the People’s Party Government at the Centre. — Staff correspondent

[Meanwhile, as reported by news agencies in New Delhi,] The Indian Government appeared … to have taken a policy decision that would permit Pakistani soldiers taken prisoner in East Pakistan — as well as civilians — to be tried as “war criminals” by the so-called Bangla Desh government.

The Indian Foreign Secretary said … Manekshaw’s guarantee no longer applied. The sources explained that Indian Army chief, Gen Manekshaw, in his “surrender appeal” to the Pakistani forces had guaranteed protection to the civilians in the absence of the “Bangla Desh government” being set up. … Now that a government was functioning from Dacca, it was “Bangla Desh government’s” responsibility to look after the interest of the West Pakistan civilians and minorities.

Published in Dawn, December 29th, 2021