পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৮৪৬

818 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ জাতিসংঘ মহাসচিবকে প্রদত্ত প্রধানমন্ত্রী জাতিসংঘ ডকুমেন্টস ১৬ নভেম্বর, ১৯৭১ ইন্দিরা গান্ধীর জবাব PRIME MINISTER INDIRA GANDHI S REPLY, DATED NOVEMBER 16, 1971, TO U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL'S LETTER OF OCTOBER 20, 1971 Your letter of the 20" October was received two days before my departure on a long tour abroad. It was not possible to reply until my return to Delhi. My trip gave me the opportunity of discussing the crisis in Pakistan with a number of leaders in different countries. 2. We have avoided any hasty reaction to the recent events in Pakistan which have naturally caused you and us great concern. I am sure you will appreciate our anxiety as the military authorities in Pakistan continue to pursue a deliberate policy of suppressing the fundamental freedom and human rights of the people in East Bengal and driving out millions of their citizens into India, thus placing intolerable political, social and economic burdens on us. In spite of the repeated declarations of "amnesty" and "invitations" for the return of the refugees and claims regarding the return of "normal" conditions in East Bengal made by the military regime of Pakistan, the flight of the people of East Bengal into India has not stopped and provides tragic testimony to the continuing military repression and denial of basic human rights in East Bengal. The consequences of the activities of the military regime of Pakistan threaten and distort the entire fabric of our national life and pose a serious threat to our security. 3. Consistent attempts have been made by the Government of Pakistan to divert attention from the prevailing situation inside East Bengal and its own refusal to reach a settlement with the People of East Bengal and their representatives, who were elected in a fair and free election held by the present Government of Pakistan, by projecting the issue as an Indo-Pakistan dispute. The most recent manifestation of this policy is the movement of Pakistani troops and armour to our borders, threatening India with total war, and simultaneously launching a vicious "Crush and Conquer India" campaign. These steps confirm our belief that Pakistan is seriously preparing to launch a large-scale armed conflict with India and that we have therefore to take all necessary defensive measures. 4. I should like to assure you. Excellency, that We have no desire to provoke an armed conflict with Pakistan. Such measures as we have taken are entirely defensive. We have been constrained to take them because of the movement and positioning for offensive combat of the Pakistani military machine. We have had to bear in mind that Pakistan has moved here forces right up to the border although the cantonments where they are normally based are only a few hours distance from the border, while the bases of our own troops are located at several days distance. Indeed, we waited long enough before we moved our troops to the frontiers.