The Bangladesh Liberation War, which took place between March and December 1971, was a conflict between East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and West Pakistan (now Pakistan). The war resulted in the formation of an independent Bangladesh, and President Nixon’s role in the war was crucial in shaping its outcome.
In the early stages of the war, President Nixon’s administration was supportive of West Pakistan. The United States saw Pakistan as an important ally in its Cold War struggle against the Soviet Union and China, and feared that if East Pakistan were to secede, it could lead to the breakup of Pakistan, which would be detrimental to US interests in the region.
As the war progressed, however, the Nixon administration began to realize that the situation in East Pakistan was much worse than they had initially thought. Reports of atrocities committed by the Pakistani military against the Bengali population began to emerge, and it became increasingly clear that the Bengalis were fighting for their independence.
President Nixon’s National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger, played a key role in shaping US policy towards the war. Kissinger recognized that the United States needed to be seen as taking a more neutral position in the conflict, and that supporting West Pakistan too strongly would damage US relations with India, which was openly supporting the Bengali cause.
In August 1971, Kissinger made a secret trip to China to discuss the situation in South Asia. During the trip, he met with Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai, who urged the United States to use its influence to bring about a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Kissinger agreed, and began working behind the scenes to encourage West Pakistan to accept a ceasefire.
On December 16, 1971, the Pakistani army surrendered to the Indian army, and East Pakistan became the independent country of Bangladesh. The United States was one of the first countries to recognize Bangladesh, and President Nixon sent a message of congratulations to the new government.
In the years since the war, there has been much debate over the role that President Nixon and his administration played in the conflict. Some argue that the United States should have done more to prevent the atrocities committed by the Pakistani military, while others contend that the Nixon administration’s efforts to broker a ceasefire helped to bring about a quicker end to the war and prevent further bloodshed.
Regardless of one’s opinion on the matter, it is clear that President Nixon’s role in the Bangladesh Liberation War was significant. His administration’s initial support of West Pakistan, followed by a more neutral stance, helped to shape the conflict’s outcome and played a part in the eventual creation of an independent Bangladesh.
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