Role of Usa

The Role of the USA in
Bangladesh Liberation
War of 1971
Introduction
• Of the two super powers dominating the World in

1970s the USA played a more complex and
somewhat negative role in the 1971 war.
Nevertheless, it should be noted that the US
society's response was one of positive support
contradicting the state's negative role. In the
pluralist and open society of the US, influential and
articulate segments stood solidly behind the cause
of Bangladesh.
US Policy About Bangladesh
War
• As the crisis developed the American response to it
went through several discernible phases.
• First phase (25 March to 9-10 July )
• Second phase( 11 July 1971 to August)
• Third phase (September to December 3)
• Fourth phase (December 3 to December 16)
First Phase
(25 March to 9-10 July )
• The first phase of quiet non-involvement began on
25 March and lasted roughly until 9-10 July 1971.
During this phase the US posture was “neutral” and
it described the problem in East Bengal as
Pakistan's “internal matter”.
Second Phase
( 11 July to August 1971)
• The second phase started with the secret trip by
President Nixon's National Security Adviser, Henry
Kissinger, to China during 9-10 July 1971.
• This marked the real beginnings of the Sino US detente
and led indirectly to the formalization of Indo Soviet
alliance by a treaty in August. During this phase, which
lasted until September, the United States pursued
diplomacy of restraint, counselling India to desist from
armed conflict with Pakistan and privately pressing
Pakistan to thrash out a 'political settlement' of the East
Pakistan issue.
Second Phase
( 11 July to August 1971)
9th July 1971: Henry Kissinger makes a secret diplomatic trip to China
Third Phase
(September to December 3,
1971)
• During the third phase, lasting from September
until December 3, when the Indo Pakistan war over
Bangladesh broke out, the United States attempted
to promote a constructive political dialogue
between the Pakistani military government and the
Bengali nationalist leaders in India, but in vain.
Fourth Phase
(December 3 to December 16)
• The fourth phase covered the period of the Indo
Pak war. During the 14-day sub continental war,
the United States backed Pakistan and blamed India
for the escalation of hostilities and tried through the
United Nations and other means to bring about a
ceasefire and “save West Pakistan” from possible
Indian attempts to destroy it militarily.
In December 1971, USS Enterprise was deployed to the Bay of Bengal,
during the Indo-Pakistani War as a show of strength.
• As noted earlier, throughout all these phases there
was a great divergence between the policy and
attitude of the US administration and the American
press, legislative bodies, and academic community.
For the most part these entities openly and
emphatically sided with the Bengali nationalists
and supported the Indian role in aiding and
assisting them.
The Role of United States
• Bangladesh part was a debatable and separate chapter

for United States foreign policy. The Liberation war of
Bangladesh and problems created by it was a great
surprise for United State. At the first of seventy decades
the consequence of the problems was beyond their
thinking. The foreign policy of United States about
Bangladesh Liberation war was double minded and
against the interest of Bangladesh. They tried not to
create bad impression about America on both Pakistani
and Bengali leaders‟ minds. But Nixon government
helped Pakistan morally, politically and economically.
The Role of United States
Former Pakistan President Yahya Khan with United States President Richard Nixon.
• The US government stood by its old ally Pakistan
in terms of diplomacy and military threats.
• The Nixon administration also ignored reports it
received of the genocidal activities of the Pakistani
Army in East Pakistan, most notably the Blood
telegram.
Why US support Pakistan?
• Pakistan was the member of SEATO (South-East

Asian Treaty Organization) and CENTO (Central
Treaty Organization)with United States in 1954 and
1955 against the communism of the world (27), As
a result of those agreements Pakistan had good
relationship with US from earlier.
• India signed alliance with Soviet Union in August
1971 which was a risk and hindrance for US to
exercise power in south Asia. USA was looking for
a faithful friend for controlling Muslim countries in
Middle East (28). As a Muslim country Pakistan
was automatic choice for this objective.
• After being defeated in Vietnam War, the USA was
interested to rebuild relationship with China.
Washington cut off all relationships with China due
to communist revolution in 1949. Kissinger wrote
in his book “White House” that there was no
alternative to communicate with China except
Pakistan.
• Henry Alfred Kissinger played a vital role in US foreign
policy of Nixon governments. As a part of his job he
played as a main character to make policy in Liberation
war of Bangladesh in 1971. Kissinger presented few
proposals to Nixon as a solution of East Pakistan crisis.
Proposal Number one-support Pakistan completely
including military action in East Pakistan taken by
Yahya government. Proposal Number two-postponed all
economic and military aid to Pakistan. Proposal
Number three-to send the aid for East Pakistan and
India for victims and refugees.
• in 1967 Nixon did not get warm reception in India
tour comparing Pakistan. In Pakistan he had
received an exceptional warm reception. Kissinger
mentioned it “never forgot” reception.
• Nixon feared that an Indian invasion of West
Pakistan would mean total Soviet domination of the
region, and that it would seriously undermine the
global position of the United States and the
regional position of America's new tacit ally, China.
Blood telegram
• During the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971, American
citizens led by the Consul General in Dacca, Archer K Blood,
sent a series of telegrams detailing atrocities committed by the
Pakistani military against Bengali civilians, students and
intellectuals. They dissented with the Nixon administration’s
policy of ignoring genocide due to the close American
alliance with the Pakistani military junta. Within the US,
public opinion also turned against Nixon for his policy on
Bangladesh. Both Democratic and Republican lawmakers,
including Ted Kennedy, Frank Church and William B. Saxbe,
denounced the Nixon White House for its silence on the
"systematic oppression" in East Pakistan.
Concert for Bangladesh
• American cultural figures like the poet Allen

Ginsberg (who wrote September on Jessore Road)
and the singer Joan Baez promoted awareness of
the Bangladesh War. The Concert for Bangladesh
was organized in New York City by British,
American and Indian musicians; and featured
American icons like Bob Dylan.
Role of U. S. Congress
• The U. S. Congress imposed an arms embargo on

Pakistan; but despite that, the Nixon White House
sent secret arms shipments to the junta. When India
intervened in December 1971, the White House
dispatched an aircraft carrier to the Bay on Bengal.
Role of General people
• Peace activists blocked arms shipments in several

northeastern American ports. Bengali diplomats at
the Pakistani embassy in Washington DC defected
and operated a mission of the Provisional
Government of Bangladesh.
Evaluate the role of USA
• United States looked for own interest in Bangladesh

crisis. If US took part in favour of Bangladesh the return
from their investment would be nothing (47). Kissinger
wrote in his White House Years, “There was no question
of “saving” East Pakistan” (48). As a part of US interest
US choose tilt policy to Pakistan as a media to China
and Muslim countries of Middle East. To take china in
part of US side Nixon tried to balancing power of
Soviet Russia. United States policy was not worked as
like as the US government wanted.
• The administration tried to say Nixon was
always influenced by neutrality. US
authority did not express dissatisfaction in
mass people killing operation called
operation Searchlight in 25 March, 1971
and the journalist Anderson proved that
the US policy was completely in favour
of Pakistan by the leaked papers named
Anderson Papers.
• Unites States took steps to solve the crisis by
keeping undivided Pakistan and settle down the
problem according to election of 1970. But Bengali
leaders were not willing to sit with US
representative in absent of Sheikh Mujibur
Rahman.
• This step was failed. The US policy was against the
humanity. America showed the lack of moral and
humanitarian concern. Yahya ordered to kill three
million of Bengali in 25 March genocide in East
Pakistan. US supported them by military aid and
economic help. About 10,00,000 people were took
shelter in India. The own people of US protest
against their policy.
• The US aid was not sufficient for Bengali refugee
India. The involvement of India added a new
direction to the war. The US policy did make happy
neither Pakistan nor India. The relationship was
deteriorated between USA and India. US decision
to send USS enterprise for helping Pakistan was
proved wrong because without taking part in war
Nixon called back the USS enterprise.
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tby39qh9Lts
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Su8as8uxvOk

Role of Usa

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Role of Usa

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Role of Usa

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Role of the USA in

• Of the two super powers dominating the World in

• Bangladesh part was a debatable and separate chapter

• Pakistan was the member of SEATO (South-East

• American cultural figures like the poet Allen

• The U. S. Congress imposed an arms embargo on

• Peace activists blocked arms shipments in several

• United States looked for own interest in Bangladesh

You might also like