পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৪২৭

399 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ ংলাদেশের শরনার্থীঃ সিনেটর পার্সির বক্তৃতা ও সিনেটের কার্যবিবরণী | ২৮ অক্টোবর, ১৯৭১ উদ্ধৃত্তি S 1704() CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE October 28, 1971 The Pakistani Refugees Mr. PERCY. Mr. President, the heavy influx of refugees from East Pakistan has Sorely taxed the already overburdened resources of India. Because-the refugee population has now reached 9 million pressures are mounting in India to take military action against East Pakistan to stem the tide of refugees. Indeed, the threat of war hangs heavy over India and Pakistan. The New York Times, in an article written by Malcolm Browne and published on October 26, 1971, reports that "501 enemy troops defined as Indians and Indian agents" were killed by West Pakistan forces. In fact, the Times further reported that "these statistics indicate that the fighting had reached its greatest intensity since the brief Indo-Pakistani conflict in 1965." It is all too apparent that the mobilization of forces along the Indo-Pakistani frontiers, is intensifying the threat of war. In the Washington Post of October 17, 1971, it is stated: It is believed that neither side want to go to war. The chief danger is seen as coming from accidental escalation along the East Pakistan border. The ever-increasing total of Pakistani refugees in India complicates the matter greatly. Sydney H. Schanberg, in an article published in the New York Times of October 10, 1971, writes that India's willingness to absorb the refugee pressure is not limitless-that there is a breaking point and that it could come soon. I have recently been to both East Pakistan and India and witnessed first-hand in eight different camps the despair and tragedy of the refugees. As Malcolm Browne notes in the New York Times of October 14 . . ... the chances of reversing the tide of millions of destitute refugees who have fled to India seem remote. It is obvious that the situation is deteriorating. In these circumstances, all interested nations should be exploring, by diplomatic means, the possibilities of solutions which would maintain the peace between India and Pakistan, and lead to the return of the Pakistani refugees to East Bengal as soon as their security can be assured. Our own Stale Department is working toward this objective.