distorted Indian propaganda and highly exaggerated accounts of incidents put out by the AIR and the Indian Press the credibility of which now stands thoroughly exposed.
Encouragement
Public encouragement given by the Indian leaders has also contributed to the influx. In this connection, mention may be made of the statement by the Prime Minister of India on March 21, 1971, in which she is reported to have said that India would keep her borders with East Pakistan open to receive any refugees who might come.
In the circumstances, it appears to the Government of Pakistan that the refugee problem has been deliberately allowed to take certain dimensions by the Government of India with Some ulterior motive.
This apprehension is further confirmed by the fact that instead of treating the question of refugees on humanitarian basis a callous campaign has been launched by India for political purposes.
In this connection, the Note under reference and the Indian Prime Minister at Rani-Khet on May 19, 1971, in which referring to the refugee problem, she is reported to flight (against Pakistan) if a situation is forced on us,” is ominous.
Yahya's Offer
Insofar as Pakistan is concerned, there has never been any question of withholding permission to the return of its bonafide and law-abiding citizens to their respective homes. In this connection, the attention of the Government of India is invited to the statement made by the President of Pakistan of May 21, 1971 urging the Pakistan citizens to return to East Pakistan.
This is in sharp contrast with India's persistent refusal to take back over half a million Indian nationals evicted by her from Assam, Tripura and West Bengal to East Pakistan. These refugees have been a great economic burden on the Government of Pakistan for the last ten years. The Government of Pakistan demands that India should take immediate steps for their return and rehabilitation in their own properties in India.
Lastly, the Government of Pakistan takes serious exception to the use of the terminology East Bengal. The Government of Pakistan demands that in future the Government of India should refer of East Pakistan by its accepted official name only.
