PAKISTAN REFUGEES PROBLEM
The Observer newspaper of London said Sunday there was a growing danger the Indian subcontinent could be dragged into war if the exodus of refugees from East Pakistan continued.
In a lengthy editorial comment the Independent newspaper said : “The enormous and increasing scale of the refugee exodus from East Pakistan to India confronts the world not only with the greatest humanitarian relief task since World War Two but also with a political crisis of growing magnitude.
“There is a growing danger that if the exodus continues, the whole of the Indian sub-continent may be dragged into war and unpredictable social convulsions.
“Because of the complex of American, Russian and Chinese interests involved, such a conflict could have international consequences almost as grave as those coming in a resumption of war in the Middle East.
“Even if the dangers of a nuclear confrontation might be less immediate than in the Middle East, there remains the possibility of a magnified version of the Korean of Vietnam conflict”, said The Observer.
The Observer continued : “Can conditions be created in East Pakistan that will give the refugees enough confidence to go back? That would mean replacing West Pakistan’s direct military rule by a civilian administration capable of inspiring at least a minimum amount of trust in most of the East Pakistani people, including the nonMoslems.
“If President Yahya Khan is unable to achieve this change, there is bound to be mounting domestic pressure on the Indian Government, either to try to impose a new political settlement there by its own direct military intervention or to give greatly increased encouragement to the Bangla Desh guerrilla movement.”
“Either course could lead to a war throughout the sub-continent. China might then be involved against India.”
“Mrs Gandhi has hitherto wisely rejected military intervention. Apart from the uncontrollable consequence of anywar, there is also a local or regional political dilemma for India. From one point of view, she might welcome a split of Pakistan into a western and eastern state.”
“But from another angle, a successful secessionist movement in East Bengal might have dangerous attractions for the Indian half of Bengal. The Indian Government is fully aware of the political volatility and Bengali separatism of its half of Bengal.”
“India’s overriding interest is to see the refugees return home and peaceful conditions restored in East Pakistan. It is an interest that deserves to be supported”, The Observer said.
Reference : The Djakarta Times, 05.07.1971