Former US Secretary of State Insults Indira Gandhi and Offends Indian Community

Title: Controversial Tapes Reveal Henry Kissinger’s Derogatory Remarks About Indira Gandhi and India During 1971 War

New Delhi: In a shocking revelation, declassified taped conversations between former US President Richard Nixon and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger have exposed derogatory remarks made by Kissinger about former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and the Indian people during the India-Pakistan war in 1971.

The tapes, made public by the US Department of State in July 2005, capture a heated conversation between Nixon and Kissinger after their meeting with Mrs. Gandhi. In the conversation, Nixon refers to Mrs. Gandhi as an “old witch,” while Kissinger uses a derogatory term to describe her and labels Indians as “bastards.” Nixon’s remarks also included derogatory comments about Indian women, describing them as “most sexless” and “pathetic.”

Following the release of the tapes, Kissinger expressed regret for his remarks and stated that he held respect for Mrs. Gandhi. He attributed the use of foul language to the context of the Cold War era, where he had made a secret visit to China before President Nixon’s visit, and India had formed an alliance with the Soviet Union.

Despite his attempts at damage control, the tapes became a stain on Kissinger’s legacy, highlighting his disregard for human rights abuses in East Pakistan during the conflict.

In a 2016 interview with The Atlantic, Kissinger explained the US support for Pakistan during the 1971 war. He revealed that the US and China were on the verge of a breakthrough, with Pakistan serving as the communication channel between the two countries. Kissinger argued that publicly condemning Pakistan’s human rights violations would have jeopardized the US-China rapprochement, which was launched from Pakistan.

Henry Kissinger, a prominent figure in statecraft and realpolitik, passed away at the age of 100. In the same interview, he emphasized that human rights were an important goal of American policy, but national security also played a significant role in decision-making.

During the 1971 war, despite attempts by the US, including a plan with China and the deployment of an aircraft carrier in the Indian Ocean, India emerged victorious and Bangladesh was born. India had sought assistance from the Soviet Union, activating a provision of the Indo-Soviet Security Agreement that considered an attack on India as an attack on Russia. Consequently, the Soviet fleet was sent to the Bay of Bengal.

In response to the US citing its agreements with Pakistan, Mrs. Gandhi had emphasized that these pacts were meant to contain Communism, not to suppress justice or the voice of the oppressed.

Ironically, a day after the liberation of Bangladesh, Kissinger had informed Nixon that he had managed to “save West Pakistan,” according to later declassified documents.

This revelation of the controversial tapes has shed light on Kissinger’s derogatory remarks about Mrs. Gandhi and Indians, forever marking his legacy and raising questions about his stance on human rights during the 1971 war.