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GTV Security Council PAN TO empty Pakistani seats
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SV Indian delegate addressing Security Council
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TRANSCRIPT: SEQ. 2: SINGH: "We have repeatedly declared that India has no territorial ambitions. Now as the Pakistan forces have surrendered in Bangladesh, and Bangladesh is free, it is pointless in our view to continue the present conflict. Therefore in order to stop further bloodshed and un-necessary loss of life, we have ordered our armed forces to cease fire everywhere on the western front in effect from 20.00 hrs Indian Standard Time on Friday the 17th., December 1971. It is our earnest hope that there will be a corresponding immediate response from the Government of Pakistan."




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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Indian's Foreign Minister Swaran Singh, addressing the fifteen-member nation Security Council of the United Nations on Thursday, announced an Indian western-front cease-fire to take effect at 20.00 hours (14.30 GMT) on Friday.

Pakistan's President Yahya Khan on Friday accepted the cease-fire, in a broadcast by Radio Pakistan.

The following is an extract from the Indian Foreign Minister's U.N. announcement, made in the absence of the Pakistan delegation, who had walked out of the Chamber the previous day.