826 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড "(e) We were assured from time to time that India did not intend to launch open and large-scale warfare against Pakistan. It is now evident that, far from exercising restraint, India has chosen the path of unabashed and unprovoked aggression. India continues to harp on the theme that the inroads into the Pakistan are being made by the so-called 'Mukti Bahini'-a rebel force created, maintained and sustained by India. No one will be deceived by the Indian claim which stands disproved by the scale of present operations and by the equipment, including armour and air force elements, now being used. "(f) Your Excellency will recall that on 20th July last you addressed an informal and confidential memorandum to the President of the Security Council informing him of the steady deterioration of the situation on the borders of East Pakistan and drawing attention to the possibility of a major conflict in the sub-continent. I welcomed your initiative and agreed to accept the representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees to supervise the return of East Pakistani displaced persons to East Pakistan. Since then, Pakistan has also sought the establishment of a good offices committee of the Security Council to defuse the prevailing tension in the sub-continent. I agreed at a subsequent date to a mutual withdrawal of forces from borders, but the proposal was summarily rejected by the Indian Prime Minister on 19th October, 1971. More recently, I responded positively to your letter of 20th October, in which you made a realistic assessment of the current Indo-Pakistan situation and expressed your concern at the prospect of a senseless and destructive war. At that time, you offered your good offices 'to assist the Government immediately concerned in avoiding any development which might lead to disaster and you stated that your good offices were entirely at our disposal if we believed that they could be helpful any time. I was happy to welcome this offer and to invite you to visit India and Pakistan to discuss ways and means of securing peace in the region, "(g) You will see that Pakistan has consistently expressed her willingness to accept the assistance of the United Nations in the solution of the present crisis in the sub-continent and India has consistently rejected it. Our position continues to be the same, but I fear India is not interested in a peaceful settlement. The developing situation, as I have described, is fast reaching a point of no return. At this juncture, your personal initiative could still avert a catastrophe. "(h) Conscious of your continuing concern for the well being of the peoples of India and Pakistan and the preservation of peace and stability in the sub-continent, I await you good counsel". 10. On 26th November, the Secretary-General replied to the President of Pakistan as follows: "I wish to thank you for your letters of 22nd October and 23rd November, 1971. I have noted with appreciation your prompt response to my offer of good offices, as well as to the suggestions which I made previously. I have also noted with great interest the suggestions in your letter of 22" October concerning other actions which might be taken to reduce tension and the threat to peace and security in the subcontinent.
