It has become imperative as preliminary to arranging for their return to carry out an impartial and accurate count of the number of people who left their homes in Pakistan and are now living in refugee camps in India. My Government has carried out a careful count, and has found that, as on 1st September, 1971, the number of Pakistanis who had left totaled 2,002.623. We are not asking that our count be taken on trust. On the contrary, we have requested the Secretary-General of the United Nations to nominate any impartial agency to verify this figure. We are prepared to give such an agency every facility for carrying out a cheek on the spot. I should be glad to hear the Foreign Minister of India giving a similar assurance on his Government's behalf. It would also be possible for such an impartial agency to observe for itself whether the movement of displaced persons is continuing at the rate alleged by India, or whether it is continuing at all. In asking for an independent verification of the exact number of refugees, it is by no means my intention to minimize the seriousness of the human problem which a large-scale movement of people involves. It is tragic, but unavoidable, that people residing in those areas which are or may be the scene of a conflict will leave their homes to escape death or the effects of the strife. The numbers of those who are so displaced in consequence of the conflict are determined by the density of the population and by the degree of fear which is generated in the minds of the people. Such fear can be generated only when they are constantly told that they will be the victims of a planned massacre.
Such was the reaction of the Indian Prime Minister, to the appeal which President Yahya Khan made to the refugees to return to their homes, that she said, “I will not allow the refugees to go back to be butchered”.
The crux of the situation is this Pakistan is desirous and determined to see that all those who left the country for one reason or another should return as soon as possible to their homes and occupations. Concrete measures have been taken to facilitate their return. In his appeal of 18th June, President Yahya Khan said:
“My appeal was addressed to all Pakistani nationals, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Members of the minority community should have no hesitation in returning to their homes in East Pakistan. They will be given full protection and every facility. They are equal citizens of Pakistan, and there is no question of any discriminatory treatment. I asked them not to be misled by mischievous propaganda being conducted outside Pakistan. The Government of Pakistan has established twenty-one reception centers along the border to provide relief, supplies and transport to their homes to returning refugees. As a further instance of Pakistan's armistice, a general amnesty was declared for all classed of people, including military deserters, and those who had been detained in Pakistan for involvement in insurgency have been released”.
In his address to the nation on 28th June, the President of Pakistan said:
“We shall gladly and gratefully accept any assistance the United Nations can extend in facilitating the move of these displaced persons back to Pakistan”.
