US direly needed to preserve West Pakistan: Kissinger

[StormShadow]

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Forty years after Bangladesh’s liberation from Pakistan, former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said while creation of Bangladesh was Indian national objective, it was essential for the US to preserve West Pakistan.


Addressing the opening gala dinner keynote address at India Today Conclave on Friday, the veteran diplomat denied that the US had made a secret pact with India to prevent an attack on West Pakistan, India Today reported.


After the 1971 war which saw the break up of Pakistan and creation of Bangladesh, the US asked India not to strike against West Pakistan, the report added.


The war broke out just when the US was conducting negotiations with China through Pakistan, said Kissinger who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1973 jointly with Vietnamese revolutionary Le Duc Tho for their efforts in negotiating peace in Vietnam and an end to the Vietnam War.


“India and the former Soviet Union had made a near-alliance around this time. It was in the national interest of the US to preserve West Pakistan,” he said.


The Indian army moved into East Pakistan on December 4, 1971. The Indian offensive led to the creation of Bangladesh. The US responded with gunboat diplomacy. President Nixon sent the Seventh Fleet led by the nuclear powered aircraft carrier USS Enterprise into the Bay of Bengal.


“Each side did what it had to do. Each acted on its own national interest which clashed for a brief moment,” Kissinger said.


Kissinger also laid another Cold War ghost to rest. White House tapes of the Nixon presidency declassified in 2005 reveal the former Secretary of state used unparliamentary language while referring to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, the India Today report said.


“I was under pressure and made those comments in the heat of the moment. People took those remarks out of context,” Kissinger said, adding that he had the highest regard for Indira Gandhi.


The veteran statesman who turns 90 next year, spoke on ‘the making of an Asian century’ during period when Israel has threatened to attack Iran destabilising the Middle East, the US is embroiled in the Afghan quagmire and India wearily watches the rise of China.


Kissinger, the architect of President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972, had a word of advice for India. It would not be in India’s national interests to allow a dominant power or a transnational power that would intrude into its sphere of influence: from Singapore to East Africa.


He also said that China would treat India with respect and that India, China and the US would have to work together to balance China’s internal forces that had the potential to destabilize it.


Dr Kissinger signed off with his interpretation of the art of foreign policy: "to have a vision of the future and the courage to pursue it".

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesig....php?nid=36531

[Aeronaut]

What he is really saying is that we zionists want to use India as a launchpad against China , so forget that "i called your PM a B and that i called you indians as a Bastardous race" !

[hinduguy]

What he is really saying is that we zionists want to use India as a launchpad against China , so forget that "i called your PM a B and that i called you indians as a Bastardous race" !

Nope, "old witch" is what he said.
I think that is what he is going to say about Jinnah and co behind close doors.
He is nationalist and for him american interest comes first. He was an worthy opponent, but he lost in diplomacy.

[American Pakistani]

Nope, "old ?itch" is what he said.
I think that is what he is going to say about Nehra & Gandiji and co behind close doors.
He is nationalist and for him american interest comes first. He was an worthy opponent, but he lost in diplomacy.

......So True.......

[somebozo]

“India and the former Soviet Union had made a near-alliance around this time. It was in the national interest of the US to preserve West Pakistan,” he said.

Translation:
Pakistan was never our ally, just a consumable nation which can be used like a plastic clay to serve short term objectives.

Kissinger, the architect of President Nixon's historic visit to China in 1972, had a word of advice for India. It would not be in India’s national interests to allow a dominant power or a transnational power that would intrude into its sphere of influence: from Singapore to East Africa.

Translation:

we want you (india) to go to war with China, much like we wanted Saddam to go to war with Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. So we can continue to play our hegemonic divide and conquer game in Asia because obviously no one else is left that stupid to believe us. Pakistan has been our faithful's for a while but they have grown too smart after the Afghanistan fiasco.“India and the former Soviet Union had made a near-alliance around this time. It was in the national interest of the US to preserve West Pakistan,” he said.

[Amolthebest]

Kissinger was a cold blooded murder, killed many innocents for US multinational companies interests in the name of 'National Interests'. If he born in other nation he would be hanged.Apart from that there is no love lost between him and India. I always take proud in Nixon-Kissinger's failed attempts in 1971.

[lem34]

To me saying keep West Pakistan intact. Means he was supporting India in its actions in Bangladesh., I mean he could have said don't go into either but he didn't. In any event he is a war criminal and as such should be tried

[The HBS Guy]

To me saying keep West Pakistan intact. Means he was supporting India in its actions in Bangladesh., I mean he could have said don't go into either but he didn't. In any event he is a war criminal and as such should be tried

... lol a Pakistani wishing to try an American diplomat for war crimes in 1971.

EPIC!

[hinduguy]

... lol a Pakistani wishing to try an American diplomat for war crimes in 1971.

EPIC!

He will blame british for partition in next post. Pakistan should give a medal to this Kissinger guy for saving their ***.
Just because you hate US now cant you cant history.

[Tshering22]

Translation:
Pakistan was never our ally, just a consumable nation which can be used like a plastic clay to serve short term objectives.

Something you fail to understand even today when you're being played all over again. Earlier it was the Eagle, today it is the Panda.

we want you (india) to go to war with China, much like we wanted Saddam to go to war with Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. So we can continue to play our hegemonic divide and conquer game in Asia because obviously no one else is left that stupid to believe us. Pakistan has been our faithful's for a while but they have grown too smart after the Afghanistan fiasco.“India and the former Soviet Union had made a near-alliance around this time. It was in the national interest of the US to preserve West Pakistan,” he said.

So you think, son.. so you think.

[hinduguy]

Something you fail to understand even today when you're being played all over again. Earlier it was the Eagle, today it is the Panda.

Common, self preservation is basic human(or even animal) instinct. They need backing of a powerful country. In return they sell some of their izzat, but what will you do with izzat when you are dead?

[lem34]

... lol a Pakistani wishing to try an American diplomat for war crimes in 1971.

EPIC!

Clearly you have not read up about what this guy was responsible for in Central and South America. It was in that context I was suggesting he should be tried for war crimes. But you guys have to look at everything in a very narrow prism of India/Pakistan

Common, self preservation is basic human(or even animal) instinct. They need backing of a powerful country. In return they sell some of their izzat, but what will you do with izzat when you are dead?

That is exactly what India has done with America

[somebozo]

Common, self preservation is basic human(or even animal) instinct. They need backing of a powerful country. In return they sell some of their izzat, but what will you do with izzat when you are dead?

Are you commenting on the new found Indian relationship with America?

[AADHAAR]

Are you commenting on the new found Indian relationship with America?

India sent a delegation to Iran to boost trade.

Became biggest buyer of Iranian oil.

Rejected american planes over the french in MMRCA.

Refused logical supply agreement with USA (which even singapore, saudi arabia have ... for those chinese who claim that singapore is just another hongkong )

.... Perhaps the comment was on China's relashionship with USA, post Nixon. , which now a lap dog gone mad and is misbehaving to the master's orders.

[AADHAAR]

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It would not be in India’s national interests to allow a dominant power or a transnational power that would intrude into its sphere of influence: from Singapore to East Africa.

Quite right. That's why strengthening the Indian Navy is of utmost importance.