America's Foreign Policy Toward South Asia Crisis In 1971

Abstract: Though South Asia was not the main battlefield for cold war, America and the Soviets payed attention to the sub-continent. Based on documents decoded in 2005 and other research achievements , this essay tries to analysis America's policy to South Asia Crisis broke in 1971. There are five parts in my essay.The first part introduces the origins of the crisis. As for Pakistan, two parts of the country was not united inseparably .In 1940s , leaders from west Pakistan altered Lahore Agreement and annoyed Bangladesh political leaders . East Bangladesh joined Pakistan unwillingly .What's more, central government payed little attention to the interest of east Bangladesh which made them tried to seek more rights . On the other hand, India and Pakistan looked each other as enemy . Two wars had broken between two countries before 1970. A political crisis broke out in Pakistan at the beginning of 1971 and began to overflow to India from late March. India tries to grasp this chance and weaken Pakistan.The second part explains America's policy during the first phase of crisis .First of all ,I introduce America's policy on South Asia from 1947 to 1970 . In the first phase of crisis , America tried to keep away from it and wanted to keep good relations with to parts of Pakistan .There were two reasons at least for adopting this kind of policy .First .America didn't want to make Pakistan and China feel America was interfering Pakistan's inner affairs .Second , officials in Washington thought East Pakistan would break away from Pakistan and become a new country .So it's better not let this would-be-friend disappointed.The third part analysis America's policy when the crisis escalated .Nixon and other figures found situation in South Asia was becoming worse and worse .Army from West Pakistan can't finish military action swiftly .The civil war would lead to terrible results for Pakistan. What's worse ,India was involved in the crisis .Civil war in East Pakistan made a mass of refugees rushed to India which became India's heavy burden . Many political figures in India asked government to have a war with Pakistan. In order to avoid another Indo-Pak War .America tried to stop crisis . As for Pakistan , America tried to advocated Yahya to reach a political accommodation with the Awami League .In order to reach this aim , America consul in Calcutta tried to build relation between...