Russia fully supports India’s stand on evacuees’ return
From SUNIL BASU, MOSCOW, SEPT, 29 – The Soviet Premier, Mr. Kosygin, told Indian newsmen here yesterday that the Soviet Union fully supported Indian’s “just demand” that the Bangladesh refugees should have guarantee of complete safety, before they can return the home.
Mr. Kosygin said that he understood the “complexity of the burden on India” and had therefore appealed to the Government and the President of Pakistan to guarantee this. The Soviet Union had agreed to coordinate with India efforts towards “influencing Pakistani authorities’ ‘ in this respect.
The Soviet Premier was talking to Indian newsmen at a dinner given by Mrs. Gandhi in honor of Mr. Kosygin and other Soviet leaders. He repeatedly emphasized that there would have to be a peaceful solution to the Bangladesh problem, but stressed that it was to be sought by the people of Pakistan. He pointed out that the struggle was going on inside Pakistani territory and so he did not think that Pakistan could use any pretext for a military confrontation with India.
A correspondent, referring to Mr. Kosygin’s appeal to President Yahya for a political settlement, pointed out that there was no indication that President Yahya was likely to do so.
The correspondent asked what should be done about this Mr. Kosygin conceded that it was a complex question and not everybody could answer this. He also could not answer it but nevertheless he felt that Pakistan must be influenced to create normal conditions for the return of the refugees.
The solution to the Bangladesh problem would have to be peaceful and political : military conflict would merely cause more suffering to the peoples of both India and Pakistan and the imperialists would rejoice at the creation of a new hotbed of tension.
During talks with the Prime Minister yesterday, the Soviet leaders emphasized the need for a “quick political settlement of the Bangladesh problem” and called upon the Pakistani President to undertake “most effective steps for the liquidation of the hotbed of tension” in the Indo-Pak sub-continent.
The political settlement the Soviet Government visualizes is one that would “take into account the legitimate interests of the people of East Bengal, guarantee their normal development and eliminate the threat of further aggravation of IndoPakistani relations.” Such an approach, the Soviet Government is convinced, would meet the interests of the Pakistani people and the cause of peace in the region.
Besides Premier Kosygin, the Party Secretary, Mr. Brezheney and President Podgorny were present at the talks. The presence of all the three top Soviet leaders is considered very significant here and indicates the Kremlin’s desire to help India in the crisis created by the events in Bangladesh.
Mr. Kosygin assured Mrs. Gandhi that the Soviet Government was doing and would continue to do everything possible on its part to “maintain peace in the region and not to allow eruption of armed conflict”. He felt that the Soviet Union and India would in future their efforts to achieve this end.
The Soviet Government’s approach is considered a further improvement from its previous stand in regard to Bangladesh and better appreciation of the issue.
Mr. Kosygin remarked that it was impossible to “justify the action of the Pakistan authorities which compelled more than eight million people to leave their motherland, their home and property and look for shelter in neighboring India.” The massive fight of the population from Bangladesh, he said, could only be explained by the fact that “intolerable conditions for their existence were created there.” In order to bring relaxation in the situation, it was necessary first of all to make it possible for the refugees to return to their homes, to give them full guarantee by the Pakistan authorities that they would not be persecuted and would receive change to live and work peacefully in Bangladesh.
At a banquet given in her honor, Mrs. Gandhi pointed out that what had happened in Bangladesh was “a grave confrontation between the people and the Government of Pakistan.” It could no longer be regarded as Pakistan’s domestic affairs. She regretted that the growing agony of the people of East Bengal did not seem to have moved many Governments.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 30.09.1971