Repatriation Of Diplomats In Sight Swiss Official To
Interview E. Bengal Staff
From Our Special Representative, NEW DELHI, June 17.-The chances of early repatriation of Indian and Pakistani diplomats from Dacca and Calcutta brightened considerably today with the reported agreement between the parties on the mode of interviewing the East Bengali diplomats of the former Pakistani Mission in Calcutta who have switched loyalty to Bangladesh.
According to the terms of the agreement worked out through the good offices of the Swiss Government, the Bengali staff of the former Pakistani Deputy High Commission will be interviewed individually by a Swiss representative in the presence of Indian and Pakistani representatives.
The Pakistani insistence on individual interviews with the defecting diplomats by their former Deputy High Commissioner. Mr. Mehdi Masud, had brought earlier efforts to repatriate the diplomats to a nought.
With India taking the position that it was for the Pakistan High Commission itself to arrange such interviews and that it could not force the former Pakistani diplomats to meet Mr. Masud, the Swiss, who had intervened at the instance of Pakistan, showed some loss of interest in the matter India, however had then agreed to a Swiss representative being present at the proposed talks which Mr. Masud was to have with the former diplomats but Pakistan brought that phase of the talks to an end by rejecting the proposal which they had originally accepted.
Finally, about a week ago, India wrote to U Thant complaining about the serious breach of the Vienna convention, committed by Pakistan by imposing harsh restrictions on Indian diplomats in Dacca and asking his good offices to expedite the repatriation of the diplomats. With U Thant’s appearance on the scene. Pakistani interest in the original Swiss move revived. This was also indicated by the alacrity with which Mr. Agha Shahi, the Pakistani representative at the U. N. has grabbed the opportunity. Although, he did not miss the opportunity of blaming the impasse on India. He has reportedly written a letter to U Thant saying that his country has accepted the suggestion that “Mr. Mehdi Masud interview members of the Deputy High Commission in Calcutta in a neutral building and in the presence of a third party”.
According to the arrangement stated to have been agreed upon by the two sides here, the interviews are to be carried out by the Swiss representatives who will out identical questions to each of the defecting diplomats.
Meanwhile, official sources here have refuted the suggestion by the Pakistani envoy at the U. N. that Pakistani diplomatic staff were being held under duress in Calcutta Mr. Hossain Ali, the former Deputy High Commissioner and the Bengali members of his staff had renounced Pakistani citizenship and had proclaimed their allegiance to Bangladesh. India did not at all come into the picture. These sources also strongly refuted the Pakistani charge that India has obstructed the repatriation of the diplomats. On the contrary, it was the Pakistani volte face that had bowled the original Swiss attempt.
In his letter to U Thant Mr. Agha Shahi said his Government “welcomes your good offices” and accepted the Secretry-General’s suggestion that “the Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Mehdi Masud, interview members of the Deputy High Commission in Calcutta in a neutral building and in the presence of a third party”, report Reuter and AP from U.N.H.Q.
The Pakistani Government had reasons to believe that “a large number of its staff in Calcutta are being held under duress,” Mr. Shahi
said.
“In contrast to the Indian attitude,” Mr. Shahi went on, “Pakistan has created no difficulty whatsoever for the evacuation of the Indian personnel in Dacca provided it is reciprocal with the evacuation of the Pakistani personnel in Calcutta.”
Our Special Representative in New Delhi adds: Pakistani acceptance of U Thant’s good offices was made known as efforts by the Swiss to secure an early solution of the stalemate over the return of Indian and Pakistani diplomats from Dacca and Calcutta, respectively, continued for the second day yesterday.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 17.6.1971