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পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৪০৩

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বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড
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 pose a grave problem, and, indeed, it is not an overstatement to suggest that they constitute a potential danger to world peace equivalent to that created over 20 years ago in Palestine. These helpless Bengali refugees are pressed into an area of India where insurrection and instability are already widespread and the problem of grinding poverty is most acute. India simply cannot bear the burdens, in terms of good, housing, employment, and health measures, which the refugees have thrust upon it, The situation could easily lead to renewed communal rioting, accelerated revolutionary activity-which could threaten the future of India itself-or another IndoPakistan war.

 In this situation the administration says that it is privately urging the Pakistanis to find a political solution in East Pakistan. However, the subsidy of the Pakistan dictatorship continues. AID announced on June 10 that it “was providing $1 million for Pakistan to charter vessels for the purpose of distributing food in the East, a worthy purpose. On analysis, however, there are some serious questions. Earlier Pakistan was supplied with similar vessels for cyclone relief and she is reported to be using them for military purposes.

 In this context, is not the $1 million for new boats simply a means of permitting Pakistan to use its existing vessels to pursue military objectives?

 And what assurances do we have that Pakistan will not divert to military purposes the vessels which they will charter with the 1 million we are giving them now?

 The situation in East Pakistan is intolerable, as is a foreign policy which in practice reinforces the status quo there. The United States should instead use all the influence, limited though it may be, which it can bring to bear. In this connection, steps should be taken to insure that military' goods, including spare parts, are not shipped to Pakistan and the offer of F-104's, B-57's, patrol aircraft, and armored personnel carries made last fall should be immediately rescinded. Economic assistance should be suspended until the Pakistanis, both East and West, agree upon a satisfactory political solution and until steps are taken to repatriate the refugees now in India. If the administration does not abandon its fruitless status quo course, I will support congressional action to achieve that objective.