December 12, 1971

Shamsuddoza Sajen

SOVIET DELEGATES DISCUSS BANGLADESH WITH INDIRA GANDHI

Soviet Deputy Foreign Minister Vasily V Kuznetsov held talks on Bangladesh with Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi today in New Delhi.

An Indian government spokesman said that discussions in New Delhi and in Moscow—where an Indian representative, DP Dhar, arrived yesterday—would deal with the question of Soviet recognition of Bangladesh.

Diplomatic sources, according to The New York Times, believed that the Russians would try to persuade Indira Gandhi to accept a halt to the fighting once the battle in Bangladesh was won and not to try to push ahead in West Pakistan.

DP Dhar had preliminary low-level talks today with Soviet officials.

ON THE WAR FRONT

Mitro Bahini were advancing on Dhaka from three directions. “The war has at last come to Dhaka,” a Voice of America correspondent reported from the encircled Dhaka as advancing columns of Mitro Bahini came as close as 18km from their main destination.