পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৩৯৪

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড
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 Since 1954 our Nation has supplied approximately two billion dollars worth of military “aid” to Pakistan, including tanks, planes, and artillery. That aid was offered to Pakistan when it became a member of SEATO, in order to “bolster” South Asia's Northern perimeter against possible Communist invasion. The only use, however, which Pakistan made of American military supplies prior to last month's massacre was during the Indo-Pak War over Kashmir in 1965. After the latter, our government placed an embargo on military shipments to Pakistan, but in October of 1970 that embargo was lifted, and we have now promised to ship another 300 armed personnel carriers, lour maritime reconnaissance planes, six F-104 jet fighters, and seven 13-57 bombers to West Pakistan's regime.

 We most strongly urge our government, which has reimposed a limited embargo on arms shipments to Pakistan to extend and maintain a total embargo for the indefinite future, and further request that all economic aid which may directly or indirectly provide foreign exchange to General Khans administration, which may be used to purchase military equipment elsewhere, be suspended at least until an impartial international Commission has been able to satisfy the American people that the slaughter of Bengali civilians has been halted, and that West Pakistani troops responsible for the Dacca and other Bangladesh massacres have been withdrawn from that region.

 We fear that there is little hope of our protests influencing the minds of West Pakistan's military leadership, but trust that by taking the course we recommend our nation will at least clear America's conscience of all stigma of possible continued support for the murder of Bengali civilians.

 Sincerely

 Stanley A. Welpert, Professor of Indian History; D. R. Sar Desai, Professor of Southeast Asian History; J. Richard Sisson. Professor of Indian Politics: Rupert Emerson, Visiting Professor of Asian Politics; Hans H. Baerwald. Professor of Japanese Politics; Fred G. Notcheifer, Professor of Japanese History; J. LeRoy Davidson, Professor of Indian Art; David M. Parquhar, Professor of Chinese History; Robert A. Wilson, Professor of Japanese History.