Repatriation: New proposal
From Our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI, MAY 12 Assistance to refugees from Bangladesh was said to have been one of the subject of discussion when the Soviet Ambassador Mr. Pegov, called on the Prime Minister here today.
He has recently come back from a visit to Moscow. As such, it is presumed he had acquainted Mrs. Gandhi with the diplomatic moves the Soviet Union had made with Pakistan in regard to fighting in East Bengal.
The Swiss Ambassador here Mr. Fritz Real, also met the Prime Minister today to post her with the Swiss offer of mediation and perhaps the possible modality for the repatriation of Mission bands from Dhaka and Calcutta, Both India and Pakistan had agreed to the Swiss offer of good offices.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has asked India to provide facilities to its Deputy High Commissioner in Calcutta. Mr. Mahdi Masud, to meet in the presence of a Swiss official all members of the mission who have shifted their allegiance to Bangladesh. Adds UNI.
This follows acceptance of the good offices of Switzerland by both countries to work out the procedure for the repatriation of the Pakistani staff in Calcutta.
This was stated by Radio Pakistan, quoting a Foreign Office spokesman.
The spokesman was apparently preparing the ground for taking back only the West Pakistan employees of the closed Deputy High Commission in Calcutta leaving behind the defectors.
He said that until Mr. Masud was given the facilities to meet all members of the Mission it would not be possible to say with certainty that some of the Calcutta Mission members had voluntarily decided to take the step they did.
India has held the view that a meeting between Mr. Masud and the Bengali defectors was entirely a matter to be settled between them.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 13.05.1971