December 15, 1971 was truly a critical day. Yahya’s government issued a warning to the people of West Pakistan that the ‘situation in East Pakistan was very critical’. After a long censorship such an official news item created panic among the populace. People turned to foreign news broadcasts and became more nervous after every bulletin.

On this day, the UN Security Council was convened at Pakistan’s request, which was to be addressed by Bhutto. It was his third address and can be called a very fiery speech.

The evening before, Bhutto was advised by Kissinger: “Pakistan would not be saved by mock-tough rhetoric. ‘… The next 48 hours would be decisive. We should not waste them in posturing for history books’.

Besides other things which came up for discussion, Kissinger had reiterated the US stand to defend West Pakistan against any Indian or joint attack, “…but it was now clear to all diplomats at the UN that nothing could keep Bangladesh under the sovereign control of Islamabad for long”. In fact, Kissinger was being updated by his men in Bangladesh, India and Pakistan.

When Bhutto began speaking he remembered Kissinger’s advice partly. He said: “I am not going to indulge in glib rhetoric or semantic contrivances because the situation is far too serious,” and then, forgetting Kissinger’s advice, he embarked upon a long speech portraying himself as a righteous person. Narrating the detailed history of Indo-Pakistan relations, bickering and trying to emphasise that we are being cornered through a scheme, he said with angst: “Today we are pitted against India and a great power. India is a big country but today it is standing against us on the shoulders of a big power to look bigger… today, the Soviet Union has openly and brazenly come out in support of India otherwise the blockade of the Bay of Bengal would not have taken place.”

As Bhutto spoke in the presence of Indian Foreign Minister, Swaran Singh, the situation in East Pakistan was becoming grimmer. Mukti Bahini forces and Indian troops were trickling into the main city centres. There were no confirmed reports but international media was drawing a gloomy picture for Pakistan.

Bhutto knew what could happen as he spoke at the Council.

Two draft resolutions were presented at the Security Council: one an Anglo-French seeking cessation of hostilities, bringing a comprehensive settlement of the crisis and appointment of UN Secretary General to help bring an end to humanitarian problems. The other resolution, a Polish one, demanded peaceful transfer of power to the lawfully elected representatives of the people in East Pakistan and arranging talks between India and Pakistan for withdrawal of troops from the western wing. Bhutto understood the philosophy and implications of both the resolutions. Many observers think that if any resolution had to be accepted it could have been the Anglo-French one. But time was so pressing that any resolution would have been immaterial.

By then fall of Dhaka had become certain. In his long and fiery speech outlining the background of the crisis, Bhutto expressed hopelessness in stopping Indian action and said: “So what if Dhaka falls? So what if the whole of East Pakistan falls? So what if the whole of West Pakistan falls? We will build a new Pakistan. We will build a better Pakistan… I am talking as the authentic leader of the people of West Pakistan who elected me at the polls in a more impressive victory than the victory of Mujibur Rahman in East Pakistan, but he did not take cognisance of it… Why should I waste my time here, I will go back to my country and fight. We will fight for a thousand years… India is intoxicated today with its military successes… so you will see… this is the beginning of the road. Today… I am leaving your Security Council. I find it disgraceful to my person and my country to remain here a moment longer… legalise aggression, I will not be a party to it. …You can take your Security Council. Here you are. I am going.”

As he stopped speaking a grim Bhutto tore his notes and left the chamber. His 18-year-old daughter and would-be prime minister, Benazir Bhutto, still a student, watched him from behind. He told the waiting reporters: “I have to return to Pakistan. I am the leader of the people.”

At home the speech was received with mixed feelings. Some thought it full of bravado, others thought that he should have been more realistic and accepted either of the two resolutions.

shaikhaziz38@ggmail.com