political and military situation surrounding Bangladesh, the U. S. Government fails to divorce itself from the Yahya dictatorship.
American policy in South Asia, thus, must be modified. The resolution I am introducing today provides us with a broad, new South Asian policy framework which would serve the interests of the United States and the peoples of South Asia well.
Apart from granting belated American recognition to the valiant independence efforts of the people of Bangladesh my resolution calls for an immediate cease-fire coupled with withdrawal of all foreign troops from all sectors of South Asia. This would mean, among other things, withdrawal of Indian troops from Bangladesh and a Pakistani withdrawal from Kashmir. We must not ignore, as well, the plight of West Pakistani troops now surrounded in Bangladesh. In light of the atrocities perpetrated by the Pakistani Government in the past 9 months, it is not surprising that revenge might be wreaked on these survivors by elements in Bangladesh. However, simple morality and respect for international law requires that no reprisals be undertaken. Accordingly, my resolution calls for prompt-and safe repatriation of these West Pakistani troops we must also press for similar treatment of Bengalis now in West Pakistan.
And of course, my resolution recognizes that immediate efforts must be made to repatriate the millions of homeless refugees now in India. Our traditional American policy of giving succor to the suffering of the world dictates that we take the lead among developed nations in providing funds and material for this repatriation effort.
Mr. Speaker, I am convinced that time and a sense of belated concern for the masses in East Pakistan will require eventual recognition of Bangladesh. Why not initiate such a policy now before the people of that new nation are totally alienated from the United States as well as from their former government in Islamabad? We must recover our sense of justice and morality in the field of foreign affairs. A start can be made by undertaking this long-overdue revision of our policy toward the people of South Asia.
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives relative to the crisis in South Asia.
Whereas the people of East Bengal voted overwhelmingly last year for self-determination and autonomy, and
Whereas the government of Pakistan has engaged in a ruthless suppression of the civilian population of that region, has slaughtered hundreds of thousands and has driven 10 million refugees into India, and
Whereas the government of Pakistan has thereby forfeited any moral authority over East Bengal and has permanently and totally alienated the population of that region, and
Whereas the government of the United States has consistently failed to take note of the moral imperatives for ceasing support of the brutal and anti-democratic government of Pakistan, and
