পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড).pdf/২৩০

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বাংরাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ দ্বাদশ খণ্ড
২০৪

 Q.- If he is not alive, Mr. Singh, or if he is not given up by the Pakistanis what will that do to the negotiations?

 A.- I presume that other leaders of the Awami League party would negotiate but we do hope that Pakistan’s military regime has not taken the extreme step of liquidating Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. Ile is a great stabilizing factor.

 Q.- Will India return that 1,400 miles or so of territory along the border that you captured during the fighting- in Kashmir and in Punjab?

 A.- So far as the eastern sector is concerned, we recognize the people’s Republic of Bangla desh, and we have no intention to stay there even for a day longer. It all depends on how things stabilize and the aftermath of his conflict is clear. In the west also. we have made our position clear-that we have no territorial claims on Pakistani territory, and the negotiations should yield the result of that this thing is straightened out in this matter.

 Q.- But what about Kashmir, Mr. Singh-which is not really Pakistan?

 A. That is a matter which can be negotiated. There has been a war, there was a cease-fire, there can be another cease-fire, if it comes to that.

 Q.- But spokesmen of our Government in New Delhi said that India would keep the territory in Kashmir which was occupied during the fighting of the last few weeks.

 A.- That I would say will be a matter of negotiations and there will be a ceasefire line just as there are cease-fire, lines after every armed conflict.

 Q.- When will Indian forces be withdrawn from the east?

 A.- I already said that we do not want of stay there event for a day longer. There are several things to be attended to. The West Pakistan army, who have surrendered-they have to be repatriated. There are risks of reprisals, and the presence of the Indian army is a great stabilizing factor. All these factors will have to be taken into consideration. That will be a matter between the Government of India and the Government of Bangladesh.

 Q.- Mr. Minister, fighting between India and Pakistan, of course, had repercussions far beyond even these two big countries, because they involved politically and indirectly the soviet Union, China, the United states. Can a new balance be found there? Let’s take American relations with India. There was this great outpouring of-at least in public sentiment -of anti-American feeling. Is this going to color future relations between India and United states?

 A.- We have always taken the view that talk of balance is unbounded and there is no basis for it. And any actions taken by other powers to keep up an artificial state of balance of power is something which, I think is at the root of many troubles here and elsewhere. You ask me about India-United states relations. There is no doubt that the United States Administration did not act in an unbiased manner. At the same time, the redeeming feature has been that newspapermen, leaders of public opinion, news media, senator, Congressmen they have appreciated the truc facts of the situation. I will not venture to say that the state of relations has not been affected, but it all depends on how the Administration tackles this problem now that the shooting war is over.

 Q.- Well, what do you suggest the Administration do then, Mr. Singh?