Conflict and Diplomacy: US and the Birth of Bangladesh, Pakistan Divides traces east Bengal's long and agonizing journey from being a part of India, to turning into East Pakistan, before finally achieving independence as Bangladesh. Containing de-classified U.S. documents that reveal extraordinary aspects of US diplomacy during this period, the book also explores the diplomatic exchanges between Delhi, Washington, Dhaka and Islamabad and the political and diplomatic agendas that led to the creation of Bangladesh. Jaswant Singh, born in 1938, is an Indian politician belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party. He has been in charge of Finance, External Affairs and Defence during the NDA regime between 1998 and 2004. He is the former Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission (1998-99).