Repatriation can’t be linked with POW

November 22, 1972       

DACCA, DELHI EXAMINING PAK RESPONSE

No indication is available here today as to when the repatriation of women and children to and from Pakistan under the offer made by India and Bangladesh will take place. India and Bangladesh are in consultation with each other on Pakistan's response to their offer.

Bangladesh is learnt to have received today the Pakistani offer for repatriation of ten thousand stranded Bangali women and children. The offer was communicated to India by the Swiss Ambassador in New Delhi and Bangladesh informally received the news through ICRC sources.

Informed sources hope that Pakistan would not make it conditional upon or link it with the repatriation of the prisoners of war. They point out that India and Bangladesh has made the offer as a humanitarian gesture in a humanitarian way and hope that Pakistan also will reciprocate in the same manner.

DEFENCE TEAM'S INDIA TOUR

The Bangladesh defence delegation which concludes its week-long visit to India today has discussed procurement of certain equipment and stores from India for the Bangladesh forces. The delegation also discusses provision of training facilities for Bangladesh personnel. India provides such facilities at its training institutes to friendly countries.

QUICK DECISION ON RECOGNITION A MUST: BHUTTO

Pakistan President ZA Bhutto says today that a quick and correct decision should be taken on the question of recognition of Bangladesh. "If we delay in taking a correct decision on future relations with 'Muslim Bangladesh' it will harm both sides and will only help our opponents," he tells a mammoth public meeting in Pakistan. He further says that Pakistan would emerge as a strong country in South Asia only if it takes the quick and correct decision in this regard.

SOURCES: November 23, 1972 issues of Bangladesh Observer, Dainik Bangla and Dainik Ittefaq.