No Repatriation Of 31 Pakistani Nationals Now
Imformation About Jailed Indians Sought
From Our Special Representatigve, NEW DELHI, July 5.—There does not seem to be an immediate prospect of India returning to Pakistan the 31 West Pakistani business executives and tea planters who in the heat of battle between the Army and the Bangladesh freedom-fighters crossed into India in search of safety.
From the military regime’s usual solicitude for the 31 individuals—in sharp contrast to its refusal to recognize the right of nearly six million other citizens to return to their homes in Bangladesh-it appears that the lucky 31 are people with connexions in high quarters in West Pakistan. This is borne out also by the remarkable zeal which the regime has shown in raising the issue of their return formally and informally, at various forums.
Interestingly, the Pakistani authorities have in the past ignored respected Indian requests for information about the 250 Indian nationals, some of whom have been languishing in West Pakistani jails for more than two years. Every attempt by India to get information about their whereabouts, their alleged crime and the punishments awarded to them has been frustrated. Inquiries have not even been acknowledged, it is pointed out.
The keenness with which the military regime has been pleading on behalf of the 31, who, to save their live, trespassed into the country and gave themselves up to the Indian Border Security personnel, confirms the belief that these are people close to the Pakistani establishment.
While India has no intention of keeping these or any of the other six million refugees now on her territory-official sources said that the list submitted by the military authorities to U Thant. Prince Sadruddin and also the Acting Indian High Commissioner Islamabad has not yet been scrutinized-they are intrigued that Pakistan should refuse to talk to India about the fate of her nationals in Pakistani jails and still be trying to give it the appearance of yet another act of intransigence by this country. Incidentally, among the 250 Indians now in Pakistani jails are two journalists who were forcibly, taken away from points along the India-East Bengal border by the Pakistani Army in April.
According to official sources. India would like the entire question to be treated on a humanitarian basis provided Pakistan acted according to International law and procedure and gave this country all the information she has been seeking bout the Indian nationals now in Pakistani jails. Pakistan apparently has no inetion of doing this and is simply trying to create an atmosphere, through approaches to the U. N. Secretary-General and through its propaganda media which, it hopes, might pressurize India into agreeing to the patriation of the 31.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 6.7.1971