NOT BY WORDS ALONE
Pakistan troops have infiltrated into Indian territory now and again ever since they started fanning out from the urban centres in Bangladesh in pursuance of their policy to drive out or exterminate the opponents of the regime. They have shot down Indian citizens and set fire to Indian villages in all the four States bordering on Bangladesh. For a time, the shelling of India villages by Pakistan troops from their position on the other side of the border was almost of daily occurrence. More often than not, their action went unchallenged; on the few occasions the Indian border security forces fired back, no casualties were reported to have been inflicted on Pakistan troops. The toleration shown by India is exemplary, but it rnay encourage Pakistan into further adventures.
The insidious ways in which Pakistan is trying to exasperate and harass India are many. Under the ground rules for prevention of tension in the border areas, presence of regular troops within five miles of the border on either side is prohibited. Virtually all along the 2,500-mile border of Bangladesh Pakistan troops have been positioned in violation of this rule. By singling out the Hindus of Bangladesh as their victims Pakistan troops are trying not only to destroy the secular character of the movement in Bangladesh, but also to inflame communal passion on this side of the border. As a follow-up measure, they are sending out agents to this country to stir up trouble, linguistic and communal, and commit sabotage. The military regime is even trying to instigate the Naga underground to resume violent activities so that it may use the situation in Nagaland as a counterblast to the upheaval in Bangladesh.
The Prime Minsiter has warned the people against Pakistan’s designs and declared that Indian troops are prepared to meet the challenge of infiltration by Pakistan troops. About a month ago, she had said in Calcutta that there were difficulties in replying to Pakistani action on every occasion. It is not clear whether the Centre has resiled from its earlier stand of selectiv response; nor whether it is ready to meet Pakistan’s challenge at every level. In the last two months, Pakistan has moved nearly two divisions of troops from the western wing to Bangladesh; it has dared because it knows it can count on India’s unflappable peaceability. The declaration by the Prime Minister will have a sobering effect on Pakistan until it is made to realize that it has already overstretched India’s patience and forbearance. (Editorial]
Reference: Hindustan Standard 14.6.1971