64 বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র : সপ্তম খণ্ড ২৮। শরণার্থীদের ফিরে আসার জন্য ওয়াশিংটনস্থ পাক- দূতাবাসের ২১ মে, ১৯৭১ জেনারেল ইয়াহিয়ার আবেদন প্রেসরিলিজ। PRESS RELEASE ISSUED BY THE EMBASSY OF PAKISTAN WASHINGTON, D.C. 20008 Karachi, May 21, 1971 REFUGEES URGED TO RETURN President Yahya Khan today urgent bonafide Pakistan citizens who left their homes due to disturbed conditions in East Pakistan to return to their homes. The following is the full text of the President's statement: "Following violence let loose by anti-state elements in East Pakistan last March, a number of innocent persons were compelled to leave their homes to seek shelter in adjoining areas. Many miscreants and infiltrators also fled to India to escape the consequences of their misdeeds. There are also others who were encouraged by India to leave with the object of disrupting East Pakistan's economic life. The Government of India has been circulating highly exaggerated and distorted accounts of events which led to these border crossings. The number of persons who crossed into India from East Pakistan has been inflated by adding to them the unemployed and homeless population of West Bengal. It is most regrettable that instead of treating the question of genuine refugees on a humanitarian basis a callous campaign has been launched by India to exploit this issue for political purposes. India is playing up this question not only to threaten Pakistan but also to justify its continuing interference in Pakistan's internal affair. The Government of India has never shown any concern for the millions of Indian Muslims who have been driven out of their homes and who have been compelled to seek refuge in Pakistan. Since 1954, more than a half million Muslims have been evicted from West Bengal, Assam and Tripura alone. Despite assurances the Indian Government has refused to take them back on one pretext or another. The Government of Pakistan still hopes that the Government of India will fulfill its obligations in this regard. Bonafide Pakistan citizens who left their homes due to disturbed conditions and for other reasons are welcome to return to their homes in East Pakistan were law and order has been restored and life is fast returning to normal. I would urge them not to be misled by false propaganda mounted by anti-state elements and to return to carrying out their normal functions. There is no question of withholding permission to the return of law abiding citizens of Pakistan to their respective homes.
