179 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : সপ্তম খণ্ড Pakistan, more than any other country, is aware of the urgent necessity of political solution of its problems. Our only plea is that we be allowed to work it our without outside interference. The President of Pakistan, in his address earlier today, announced concrete measures whereby democracy will be restored in the country. I cannot leave this rostrum without seeking to dispel a certain misunderstanding about the situation in East Pakistan which has appeared in the statements made by one or two delegations during the general debate. This misunderstanding seems to be related to the principle of self-determination. Pakistan, as much as any other country and more than some believes in and steadfastly adheres to this principle. The principle is applicable to all peoples living under colonial ruler or alien subjugation or in territories whose disposition is yet undetermined. It would be a travesty of this principle, however, if it were to be invoked in the case of racial, ethnic or linguistic groups which compose the populations of multi-racial or multi-linguistic States which have already exercised their right of self-determination. Endless fragmentation, especially of newly independent states would then result. In the case of Pakistan, its sovereign Statehood was established by the same act from which India derives its independence. Both States are multi-lingual. Pakistan consists of the Bengalis, the Punjabis, the Sindhis, the Pathans and the Baluchis: these five ethnic and cultural groups are the main components of our nation and not one of them is subordinate or inferior to the other. References which were made to the Pathans and the Baluchis are not in conformity with historical and legal facts. And let me say finally that with our neighbor Afghanistan we desire nothing more ardently than relations of brotherhood and mutual respect.
