<P> During the course of the war, China harshly criticized India for its involvement in the East Pakistan crises and accused India of having the imperialistic design in South Asia . Before the war started, Chinese leaders and officials had been long philosophically advising the Pakistan government to make peaceful political settlements with the East Pakistani leaders, as China feared that India was secretly supporting, infiltrating, and arming the Bengali rebels against the East Pakistani government . China was also critical of Government of East Pakistan led by its Governor Lieutenant - General Tikka Khan' s ruthless measure to deal with the Bengali opposition and did not endorse's Pakistani position on that . When the war started, China reproached India for India's direct involvement and infiltration in East Pakistan . China disagreed with President Yahya Khan's consideration of military options and criticized East Pakistan Awami League politicians' ties with India that he believed, would harm the nation's unity . </P> <P> When the war started, China reacted with great alarm when the prospects of Indian invasion of Pakistan and integrating the Pakistan - administered Kashmir into their side of Kashmir became imminent . U.S. President Nixon encouraged China to mobilise its armed forces along its border with India to discourage it but the Chinese did not respond to this encouragement since the Indian Army's Northern Command was well prepared to guard the Line of Actual Control, and was already engaging and making advances against the Pakistan Army's X Corps in the Line of Control . </P> <P> China did not welcome the break - up of Pakistan's unity by the East Pakistani politicians and effectively vetoed the membership of Bangladesh when it applied to the United Nations in 1972 . Over the veto of two UN resolutions concerning the Bangladesh, China reasoned with these decisions in regards to the repatriation of Pakistani POWs and civilians had not yet been implemented . Furthermore, China was also among the last countries to recognize the independence of Bangladesh, refusing to do so until 31 August 1975 . To this date China's relations with Bangladesh are determined by the Pakistan factor . </P> <P> During the course of the conflict, Iran also stood with Pakistan politically and diplomatically . However, Iran became concerned with the imminent break - up of Pakistan which, they feared, would cause the state to fractionalize into small pieces; therefore, Iran began cementing ties with India based on mutual security co-operation . At the beginning of the conflict, Iran helped sheltering PAF's fighter jets and provided with free fuel for the PAF to take part in the conflict in an attempt to keep Pakistan's regional integrity united . When Pakistan called for unilateral ceasefire and the surrender was announced, Shah of Iran hastily responded by preparing the Iranian military to come up with the contingency plans to forcefully invade Pakistan and annex its Balochistan province into its side of Baluchistan, by any means necessary, before anybody else does it . </P>

Who is heading indian army during bangladesh liberation