Left Politics- In Conventional Groove

prisoners of war has figured prominent- Iv in' Haksar's talks with the Bangladesh leaders, including Mujib.
Does this suggest a shift in our earlier position that the ball was in Pakistani court or could the explanation be somewhat different? Lest month's elections In Bangladesh swept the ruling A warn! League back into power and recognition by Pakistan is perhaps no longer the sensitive political issue for Bangladesh that it used to be. At the same time, Sheikh Mujib has every interest in trying to remove whatever reservations aid-givers to Bangladesh may have on the score of the country's relations with Pakistan, especially on the question of the return of the Pakistani prisoners of war. The United States, which has been and will remain Bangladesh's Santa Clans number one, may particularly be expected to press upon the Bangladesh government the view that no purpose is served by hanging on to the Pakistani prisoners of war. For his part, through some of the changes he has made in his cabinet after the elections, especially the transfer of the Foreign Affairs portfolio from Abdus Samad to Kamal Hussain, Sheikh Mujib has served notice that should the need arise, his government would not allow an excess of gratitude to India or the Soviet Union to stand in the way of independent initiatives in foreign policy.