402 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড শিরোনাম সূত্র তারিখ পাকিস্তানে সমরসম্ভার প্রেরণ বন্ধে সিনেটর সিনেটের কার্যবিবরণী ৮ নভেম্বর, ১৯৭১ কেনেভীর সন্তোষ ও চার দফা কর্মসূচী প্রদান S 17821 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE November 8, 1971 Halt in shipment of military supplies to Pakistan. Mr. Kennedy. Mr. President, the State Department has just confirmed to me this morning's news reports that the administration is halting the shipment of military supplies to Pakistan. I understand that this order involves the revocation of some $ 3,600,000 worth of outstanding shipping licenses-as well as some $10 million worth of potential licenses authorized by 24 "offer and acceptance contracts" negotiated by the Department of Defense with the Embassy of Pakistan after March 25. The order excludes, however, some $ 160,000 worth of items already cleared by customs in New York, and waiting for shipment to Pakistan. I also understand the that official estimate on the value of military supplies sent to Pakistan since late March approximates some $5 million. Mr. President, I want to take this opportunity to commend the administration for this positive step in our national policy toward South Asia. For nothing has symbolized more the heavy measure of support we have been giving to the military regime in Pakistan, than the continued shipment of American military supplies-and nothing has symbolized more the bankruptcy of our approach to the crisis in South Asia-carried out in the name of leverage-than the continuing repression in East Bengal and the flow of refugees into India. But-even at this late stage-the action announced today by the Department of State is a welcome first step in what I hope will be a redirecting of our policy in South Asia. There are a.......of other things our country should do, as well. Some of these additional steps were outlined in a report l issued last week. The report is based on my recent visit to the refugee areas in India, and hearings before the Subcommittee on Refugees, which I serve as chairman. One of the more important steps which should be taken is for our Government to facilitate an immediate visit with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mission in Pakistan. Such a visit fails within the expressed mandate of the mission's program currently underway in Pakistan and East Bengal. Positive information relating to the welfare and fate of Sheikh Mujib-and the many others held in detention-will contribute to a reduction of tension throughout the area. Sheikh Mujib's only crime was the winning of a free election sponsored by a military regime that later refused to abide by the election's mandate. Sheikh Mujib's symbolic leadership of political forces opposing the present government in Islamabad, makes his just treatment and personal safety a matter of greatest importance in any efforts to encourage and accomplish a political settlement between Islamabad and its Bengali opposition.
