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Title items-in-lndia/Pakistan/Bangladesh - individuals andorganizations - Sadruddin Aga Khan, High Commissioner forRefugees - repatriation operation

Date Created 25/03/1972

Record Type Archival Item

Container S-0900-0002: India/Pakistan/Bangladesh 1971-1977

Print Name of Person Submit Image Signature of Person Submit

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AY21G

SA34 FFF SRI NAG AH 114 5 0200Z =

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UKKOG 237 GUYEI?/ U R Q U E H A R T t FIELDSERV FROM T A S S A R A . FOLLOWING

RECEIVED FROW SADDRUDIN AGHA K H A S t ' '

QUOTE HCRS 419 FOR GENERAL TASSAffA . ALTHOUGH WE HOPE TO

AVAIL OURSELVES OF YOUR C O M M U N I C A T I O N FACILITIES FOR A

FEW DAYS MORE I SHOULD L I K E TO TAKE TME O C C A S I O N OF THE

LAST FLIGHT =

PS =

OF THIS MASSIVE R E P A T R I A T I O N O P E R A T I O N TO EXTEND MY WARMEST

T H A N K S TO YOU A8B YOUR STAFF FOR THE FACILITIES YOU H A V E

AFFORDED US OVER THE PAST TEN MONTHS W H E N G O O D C O M M U N I C A -

TIONS WERE ESSENTIAL FOH THE SUCCESS OF OUR E N D E A V O U R S .

THE CLOSE C O O P E R A T I O N OF ALL YOUR STAFF A&D IN P A R T I C U L A R

YOUR ~

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R A D I O OPERATORS HAS BEER VERY HUGH APPRECIATED* KINDEST

R E G A R D S , SADDRUDIW AQHA K H A H . UNQUOTE +

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3COL 28? 419

U N I T E D N A T I O N S

Press SectionOffice of Public Information

United Nations, N.Y.

(FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA — NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release SG/SIi/2026REF/70J

? OP OCNCITj'/JQN QF_ K?,

- Following is tae text of a statsixent issued by the Secretary-Ge oralfollovjr;g ths conelusioxi today of the ^cpafc-rL^xtioi? opcrc-vion cnrrie.-i cutin the ?.ou*h Acd.aM :-:r:"o;.o3tiinfint lr-y -Lhe Office of -::/.'e Uni' ad Ncitions HighCofldirjsioyxsr for Re-Ji'ugc.es (see P ss Helesse SEF/fOo):

On 31 Aiigust- 19T3, the Governments of Bangladesh and Pakistan requestedthe assistsr.ee of the United Nations in organising the repatriation ?.? personsbetween thol'? two countries, as provided for in the New Delhi Agree-,;:.'.;/it of28 A-J J'.TI-O 19T3. I appointed the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees,whose O.ffice was already engaged in a limited repatriation in the area, asmy executing agent for this operation, which ended today after almost aquarter of a million people had been moved across the £obcontinent.-

I believe that the successful conclusion of this massive undertaking isa tribute to fill whc participated, and has been an important factor inhelping to create the coiclitions in which the Governments themselves couldmake major progress towards a new era of co-operation and understanding.

UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONERFOR REFUGEES

REGIONAL OFFICE AT UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS

NEW YORK

HAUT COMMISSARIAT DES NATIONS. UNIESPOUR LES REFUGIES fthDELEGATION AU SIEGE DES NATIONS UNIE5

\

TO:

FROM:

SUBJECT:

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

4 April 1974Mr» Anton Prohaska,Executive Office of the"Secretary-General

V» Dayal, UKHCR Regional Representative

South Asian Airlift

Enclosed are two very brief tables providing basicdata concerning the South Asian airlift. They are sentjust in case the Secretary-General needs such informationfor the appointment with Ambassador Jankowitsch,

4 April 1974

Airlift

1. Target for funding $ 14.3 million

2. Amount received $ 9.7 " in cash

$ 2.24 " in kind

3« Persons moved as of 1 April

(a) From Pakistan to Bangladesh 120,225

(b) From Bangladesh to Pakistan 68,549

4* Additionally? 10,868 Pakistanis moved home from Nepal

5. Government of India has, till 2 April, returned 83,149

and civilian internees,

4 April 1974

Airlift Contributions

Country Cash Kind

Australia 500,000Botswana 5,006Canada 1,000,000Denmark 700,000

Fed. Rep. Germany 179,356

Finland 181,818

German Dem. Rep. 175,000

Holy See 30,000

Iraq 9,953Japan 1,000,000

Liechtenstein 3,236

Luxembourg 13,269

Netherlands 400,000

New Zealand 200,000

Norway 555,000

Philippines 5,000

Rwanda 1,000

Sierra Leone 23,000

Sweden 720,000

Switzerland 15,625

Turkey 10,000

Uganda 2,898

United Kingdom 1,629,268

USA 4,150,000

USSR 445,000

Total 9,705,661 2,249,000

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OM PROGRESS HCRS VISIT AMD ADDS QUOTE PRINCE S A D R U D D I N ON

••;•-. T H U R S D A Y EXPRESSED SATISFACTION OVER KIS TALKS WITH BAHGALDESH

G O V E R N M E N T ON R E P A T R I A T I O N ISSUE AMD SAID T H A T SOLUTION OF

THIS REMARKABLE HUM AMI TAR I AN = •

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PROBLEM WOULD EFFECTIVELY CONTRIBUTE TO ESTABLISHMENT WORLD

PEACE UNQUOTE, HE ALSO STATED THAT QUOTE WE WOULD TRY TO

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' A N D THAT R E P A T R I A T I O N S HAD TO BE COMPLETED AT EARLIEST POSSIBLE

DATE* BBB ALSO REPORTED THAT PRESIDENT CHOWDHURY URGED HCR TO =

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ACCELERATE PACE OF R E P A T R I A T I O N Af^D APPRECIATED QUOTE MEKORASLE £

w ROLE UNQUOTE PLAYED BY HCR IN A R R A Y I N G O P E R A T I O N . PRESIDENT

; ALSO REFERRED TO QUOTE LAUD I OLE ROLE UNQUOTE OF SECGEH FOR . ?=•

SPEEDY R E P A T R I A T I O N AHD S O L U T I O N OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH HE HOPED ^'^ a

WOULD LEAD ERA PEACE ON S U B C O N T I N E N T A D D I N G THAT BAHGALDESH °*

, j W A W T E D GOOD RELATIONS WITH ALL N E I G H B O U R I N G COUNTRIES, I N C L U D I N G

P A K I S T A N OK BASIS SOVEREIGN S8UALITY +

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U N I T E D N A T I O N S

Press SectionOffice of Public Information

Uni-cod Katlonn, N.Y.

(FOR USE OF INFORMATION MEDIA -«• NOT AN OFFICIAL RECORD)

Press Release REP/6996 November 1973

M..H REFT EBS TO VISIT INDIAN SUBCONTINENT

(The following is reproduced as received from UNHCR.)

Sadruddin Ag& Khan, the United Nations .High Commissioner for Refugees(UNHCR), will visit Bangladesh on 7 end 8 November and Pakistan on 9 and10 November<, He is ur.d'irtakir,g this mission to gp.in a first-hand view ofthe repatriation operation vhlch is "being co-ordinated "by UNHCR at therequest of the Secretary-Gener/xl „ The operation entails movement of morethan 200,000 persons, namely, Bangalis from Pakistan to Bangladesh and non-Bengalis from Bangladesh to Pakistan.

The present UNHCR airlift "began as a result of the Delhi Agreement of28 August 1973, and was preceded by limited repatriation also carried out"by UNHCR at the request cf the Governments concerned. As of today, 6 November,some 53,000 persons have moved: about 35,000 Bengalis from Pakistan, some12,000 non-Bengalis from Bangladesh and 6,000 stranded Pakistanis from Nepal.

At present, five planes are in operation on the airlift, includingaircraft from the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and the German DemocraticRepublic. In a new development, the Soviet Union has made available, on abilateral basis, a ship which left Chittagong for Karachi on 5 November withmore than 900 passengers.

In addition, nine Governments, including those of Australia, Denmark,Japan, Liechtenstein, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Turkey and the UnitedStates have contributed $5.7 million in cash towards the target of $l4»3 millionin cash and kind set by the High Commissioner in his appeal in September.

*• *** •*

TG/dra

c c: C.V. Haras imhanE. Mira

bef. filing: GH/AP

15 June 1973

Dear Prince Sadruddin,

I wish to thank you for your letter dated 31 May 1973,

forwarding to me your confidential report on your recent visit

to Pakistan and Bangladesh. ——

I read your report with keen interest and X appreciated

very much the carefully considered eoEments vhich you made on

the possibilities of arranging a limited repatriation of Bengalis

and Pakistanis. I agree vith your proposals as to further

contacts in this respect.

I thank you for keeping me well informed of this matter.

With best personal regards,

Sincerely yours,

Kurt Waldhein

Prince Sadruddin Aga KhanUnited Nations High Commissionerfor Refugees

Palais des NationsGeneva, Switzerland

NATIONS UNIES

LE HAUT COMMISSAIRE POURLES REFUG1ES

UNITED NATIONS

THE H/IGH^COMMISSIO[N^|^ORREFUGEES ^

Confidential 31 May 1973

*AM

In accordance with your instructions, Ivisited Pakistan and Bangladesh between 26-29May, in order to examine the possibilities ofarranging a limited repatriation of Bengalisand Pakistanis.

A copy of my report isconsideration

enclosed for your>

***-*

Sadruddin Aga Khan

Dr. Kurt WaldheimSecretary-General,United Nations,NEW YORK

C O N F I ' D E E T I A . L

MISSION TO PAKISTAN AMD BANGLADESH

26 - 29 MAY, 1973

(REPORT OF SADRIIDDIN AGA. KHAN)

1. In accordance with, the instructions of the Secretary-General, I

visited Pakistan and Bangladesh "between 26-29 May, 1973- The purpose of my

mission was to examine the possibilities of arranging a limited repatriation

of Bengalis and Pakistanis to their respective homes and, as 'executing agent1

on behalf of the Secretary-General, to find ways, if possible, of starting

such an operation expeditiously.

2. This report relates exclusively to this circumscribed purpose. While,

in the course of my conversations with President Bhutto and Prime Minister Sheikh

Mujibur Rahman, a variety of other matters were, inevitably, mentioned by them,

these matters were not the subject of my mission, nor are they now mentioned

in this report.

3- At the outset, I should like to express my gratitude for the logistical

support given me by General Tassara-Gonzales, Mr. Jansson and Ambassador Lacoste.

I should also like to thank Ambassador Lacoste most sincerely for his valuable

advice and warm hospitality during my stay in Bangladesh.

I PAKISTAN (26-27 MAY, 1975)

4- A schedule of my appointments is attached £annex I). In Rawalpindi,

meetings were held with the ICRC, the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and

officials of the Foreign Ministry. The meeting with President Bhutto was held

in Murree. I was accompanied throughout by Mr. Z. Rizvi.

5- Despite earlier misunderstandings concerning the timing of my mission,

it was clear that the Government of Pakistan welcomed this effort on behalf of

the TUf to facilitate the movement of Bengalis and Pakistanis to their homes.

It was also clear, during my visit and through Mr. RizviJs contacts prior to my

arrival, that the terms of reference and the limited scope of my mission had been

fully understood by the Government and, on the basis of briefings by the Foreign

Ministry, by the local press.

2.-

6. The Government of Pakistan, in opening the discussions, reiterated

the great importance which it attached to the sequence of events. This sequence,

it stated, was as follows :

(i) Pakistan's initial, and unilateral, offer to repatriate 5»000

Bengalis from West Pakistan to their homes.

(ii) Through a communication of 26 November 1972, Pakistan was informed

by the Government of India that Bangladesh and India jointly agreed to arrangements

"being made for the repatriation of wives and children of Pakistani POW's and

civilian internees, via the ¥agah border post. The number of such wives and

children was approximately 6,500.

(iii) In order to reciprocate, Pakistan then announced that it would be

willing to permit an additional 10,000 Bengalis (mainly women and children') to

return to their homes from West Pakistan.

(iv) Through his letter to the Secretary-General, of 29 March 1973>

the Prime Minister of Bangladesh requested the HIT to secure a neutral ship to

repatriate these 15,000 Bengalis from Karachi to Chittagong. He indicated that

if such an arrangement could be made by the UN", the ship could carry 20,000

Pakistanis on the return voyage from Bangladesh.

7- The Government of Pakistan further indicated to me that :

(i) It accepted the proposals made by the Prime Minister"of Bangladesh

in his letter of 29 March, 1973 to the Secretary-General, as indicated in Ambassador

Akhund's letter of 6 April, 1973.

(ii) It had received from the ICRC, on 23 May, 1973, a list giving the

details of 10,500 persons. It expected that those among the list who were found,

upon verification, to be of ¥est Pakistani origin, would be permitted to leave

Bangladesh.

(iii) The process of verification would take the Government of Pakistan

some three to. four weeks.

(iv) Family members of Pakistani POW's, whether of West Pakistan origin

or not, could be repatriated to West Pakistan.

(v) The Swiss Embassy (Pakistan Interests, New Delhi) had informed the

Government of Pakistan that of the estimated 6,500 wives and children of POW!s

in India, only 1,279 had indicated their willingness to return home, the others

had chosen to stay with their heads of family, i.e. the POW's.

(vi) The Government of Pakistan also stated that in view of the limited

nature of my mission, and in order not to complicate it unnecessarily, it did not

expect UNHCE, as the 'executing agent1 of the Secretary-General, to be involved in

the return of the wives and children of P0¥ls at this stage.

8. As regards technical arrangements for the movement of Bengalis and

Pakistanis, the following understanding was reached with the Government of Pakistan :

(i) The UN would raise funds to finance the travel of the Bengalis who

were to leave Pakistan and of the Pakistanis who were to come from Bangladesh under

the proposed limited operation. These funds would cover costs from the port of

embarkation to the port of disembarkation.

(ii) The Government of Pakistan would defray the expenses to be incurred

until the embarkation of the Bengalis. Similarly, it would take charge of Pakistanis

coming from Bangladesh at the port of disembarkation.

(iii) The process of repatriation could commence even before the

verification of all the applicants was completed — even by air if this could be

arranged.

(iv) It was expected that the Government of Bangladesh would adopt a

similar attitude in this respect.

(v) The Government of Pakistan had no objection to my proposal that

appropriate-aircraft be used, if necessary, to start the operation. Aircraft from

Afghanistan, Iran and the US were mentioned. Similarly, US or pilgrim ships could

be used for the movement by sea.

9- The Government of Pakistan also drew my attention to the following points :

(i) It was desirable that the proposed operation not be linked with

other outstanding issues.

(ii) The 15,000 Bengalis being permitted to leave by the Government included

sea—men, students and persons who were profitably employed, as well as women and

children. They were not necessarily illiterate or destitute. The Government had

deposited exit permits for about 12,000 of them with the ICRC.

(iii) Generous criteria for admission to Pakistan had been applied to persons

who had fled from Bangladesh to Nepal and wished to repatriate from there. However,

the situation of those who were domiciled and still living in Bangladesh was

different.

4.-

10. From the discussions, it was clear that some ambiguity existed as to

whether the ICRC lists of Pakistanis to be moved from Bangladesh had received

the prior approval of the Government of Bangladesh "before being communicated to

Islamabad. I offered to clarify this point during my visit to Bangladesh and

informed the Government that I would subsequently convey the position to it. I

was separately informed by the ICEC that the latter had followed exactly the same

procedure for the submission t) both governments of lists prepared by it of Pakistanis

and Bengalis. In both cases, the lists which it prepared were submitted simultaneously

to the two governments.

II BANGLADESH (28-29 MAY, 1973)

11. A schedule of my appointments in Dacca is attached (annex II).

Ambassador Lacoste and Mr. Dayal joined me in all sessions with the Foreign

Minister and Foreign Secretary, as also in the talks with the ICRC team. The

Prime Minister and I conversed alone, in a meeting of some eighty minutes.

12. It was apparent, both from Ambassador Lacoste!s soundings and from

Mr. Dayalls contacts prior to my arrival, that the Government of Bangladesh had

serious misgivings concerning certain developments relating to the "limited

repatriation". Repeatedly, the Foreign Minister and his staff set out their

understanding of the sequence of events and the issues involved.

13. Their views were as follows :

(i) There were three groups being considered in connection with the

"limited repatriation" : (a) the approximately 6,500 wives and children of POWs,

who were to move across-Wagah from India to Pakistan, (b) the 15,000 Bengalis in

Pakistan and (c) the 20,000 Pakistanis in Bangladesh.

(ii) Through reciprocal offers made in November 1972, India and

Bangladesh-indicated that group (a) could repatriate, while Pakistan indicated

the same for group (b). The "link" was therefore between these two groups.

(iii) On 22 March, 1973? "the Government of Bangladesh was informed through

the Swiss Embassy in Dacca that the. Government of Pakistan was issuing exit permits

to the 15,000 Bengalis and that they could leave, either overland, or from Karachi,

once arrangements were made for their transportation.

5.-

(iv) It was for this purpose and for this group that Sheikh Mujib,

through his letter of 29 March, sought the Secretary-General's assistance to

obtain shipping.

(v) In order to use the ships more fully, Sheikh Mujib suggested that

20,000 Pakistanis could be transported on the return voyage from Chittagong to

Karachi. There was, however, no question of "reciprocity" between the repatriation

of the 15>000 Bengalis and the subsequent offer to return 20,000 Pakistanis.

(vi) Any effort now to "link" the movement of the Bengalis with a

reciprocal -movement of Pakistanis would imply a shift by Islamabad from its offer

and commitment of November 1972. The more economic use of shipping should neither

serve as the pretext for such a shift nor as a method for delaying the movement

of Bengalis. This, particularly, since Islamabad was seeking to exclude certain

categories of Bengalis - and they the most needed - from returning to Bangladesh.

(vii) Recent reports from the ICRC indicated that only 1,279 of the 6,500

wives and children of POWTs now wished to return home, while the rest chose to

stay with their husbands/fathers in India. This did not invalidate the reciprocal

offers of November 1972. There was a suspicion that the wives and children were

being advised to stay in India, in order to enable Islamabad to work out a new

reciprocity : 15,000 largely destitute Bengalis for as many West Pakistanis as

possible. Government of Bangladesh could not accept such a shift in Islamabad's

position, nor could it agree that only persons of West Pakistani origin were

eligible for admission to Pakistan.

(viii) Against this background, Bangladesh (a), wanted the repatriation

of the 15,000 Bengalis to commence without further delay ; (b) was prepared to

arrange with India that exit permits be issued to all 6,500-wives/children of

POW's, leaving it to them whether they wished to stay with their husbands/fathers

or return to Pakistan ; (c) was prepared to grant exit permits to 20,000 Pakistanis,

but could not accept the -position that these should be given only to persons of

West Pakistani origin.

(ix) Following from (viii), Bangladesh could not accept the position

that only those, whose names had been submitted by the ICRC to Islamabad, should

move to Pakistan. The ICRC had submitted to the Government of Pakistan lists

comprising names of 11,344 persons of West Pakistani origin and of 7jl68 persons

who, through not of West Pakistani origin, had close relatives in Pakistan. The

ICRC had not cleared these lists with the Government of Bangladesh and they could

not therefore serve as the basis for a movement of Pakistanis from Bangladesh. Any

lists of such persons would have to be initiated by the Government of Bangladesh

itself.

•A

6.-

14. In the conversations that ensued, the Foreign Ministry repeatedly asked

whether Pakistan was seeking a new reciprocity linking Bengalis to West Pakistanis.

It was obvious that Sheikh Mujib's letter of 29 March, in suggesting the return

of 20,000 Pakistanis by ship, was now a source of embarrassment to Bangladesh,

permitting as it did considerations not envisaged in the November 1972 declarations.

15. Seeing that the mission could end in an impasse, I took the following

line :

(i) 111 concerned fervently hoped that a start be made, however limited

or modest. It was therefore essential, at this stage, to avoid problems of

'definition' and the 'criteria' for admission.

(ii) I would be prepared to check again whether Islamabad would permit

a start to-the movement of Bengalis in accordance with the November 1972 offers,

regardless of whether or not there were an assurance on a "reciprocal" movement

of Pakistanis from Bangladesh.

(iii) There was some ambiguity as to whether Pakistan sought to establish

such "reciprocity" and this would need to be clarified. It was my personal opinion

that a gesture to repatriate persons of Vest Pakistani origin would contribute

infinitely to the prompt repatriation of the 15,000 Bengalis, and more thereafter.

While the Pakistan Foreign Office did not mention "reciprocity", President Bhutto

did indicate that if Bangladesh were interested, so would Pakistan be interested.

However, if the former were not interested, Pakistan might not be either.

(iv) Even if we kept to the November 1972-"linkage", those wives and

children of -POW's who wished to return, should be enabled to do so speedily. At

present, none had been granted exit permits.

(v) If ships were to be used for the repatriation of Bengalis, it would

clearly be preferable also to permit return voyages carrying Pakistanis. The UN", on

its side, obviously could not take aboard persons who would be denied disembarkation

in Karachi. This implied that there should be lists, cleared in advance by Islamabad.

If the ICEC lists were not authorized, the Government of Bangladesh should speedily

prepare.its own lists, bearing in mind the ICRC lists which catalogued persons of

West Pakistani origin and those having close relatives there. This would facilitate

a start to the movement of Pakistanis, however limited. I added, in this connection,

that Sheikh Mujib had, in his conversation with me, stated that "hardship cases"

should go at the earliest.

7.-

(vi) If Bangladesh so wished, I would "be prepared to try to seek aircraft

for the immediate transportation of some Bengalis - this in order to trigger the

movements and to o"btain time while the lists of Pakistanis are being compiled.

Even such a start, however, would be subject to Islamabad's prior concurrence.

16. After further consultations among themselves, in the final round of

talks, the Bangladesh Foreign Ministry stated its position as follows :

(i) The UN should start with the movement of Bengalis, as goon as

possible, by ship. As many as are permitted to board ship should be provided

facilities to do so. They hoped the number would be close to 15,000 but they

realized this would depend upon Islamabad's position. Initially, the UN should

contemplate single-voyage-charters from Karachi to Chittagong, with the possibility,

however, of converting them to time-charters (Karachi-Chittagong-Karachi).

(ii) The Government of Bangladesh would arrange with the Government of

India that-exit permits be granted to all 6,500 wives and children of POV's,

irrespective of whether they individually chose to return or to stay. Those who

wished to return would be escorted across Vagah.

(iii) The Government of Bangladesh would draw up a list of 20,000 Pakistanis

with a view to granting exit permits to them. Their names would be selected by the

Government and would include "hardship cases". The UN" "should not presuppose" that

the Government would exclude "hardship cases" (the implication being that the list

would, inter alia, include names of persons of West Pakistani origin and of persons

who though not themselves of West Pakistani origin would have close relatives in

Pakistan).

(iv) It was understood that the UN could only transport persons who would

be allowed-to disembark. Implicit, therefore, was the need for the persons to be

cleared by Pakistan,prior.to embarkation.

(v) Logistical considerations should not "impede the movement of persons",

(in other words, the use of ships should not serve to establish a binding reciprocity

between the earlier Pakistani offer to return 15,000 Bengalis and the subsequent

Bangladesh offer to use these ships, if possible, for the return of 20,000 Pakistanis),

17. Before leaving Dacca, I informed the Government of Pakistan, through

Mr. Eizvi to whom I sent a cable, that Bangladesh did not consider the ICRC list

the exclusive basis on which to obtain clearances from. Pakistan. I added that the

Government of Bangladesh stated that the list had been communicated without Dacca's

prior approval and that Bangladesh was now preparing its own list. In the final

meeting with the Bangladesh Foreign Minister, I urged him to prepare, as speedily

as possible, the list of the 20,000 Pakistanis that he had undertaken to compile.

Ill CONCLUSION

18. There still remain differences in the views oi slamabad and Dacca

concerning the scope and nature of the "limited repatriation". In a sense, Sheikh

Mujib rs letter of 29 March, 1973 led to interpretations that were not envisaged

by Bangladesh.

19- Even so, there is no doubt that both governments appeared desirous of a

start being made, however limited or modest such a start may be. Further, it was

clear that assistance .from the UN was welcome, as also the role that the Secretary-

General entrusted to me. Both governments expect that the TUSf's efforts should

continue. Their discussions with me were remarkably frank and, granting that

.ambiguities still exist, they would expect that these be clarified in order to

permit the start of a mutually acceptable movement.

20. Subject to the concurrence of the Secretary-General, I would therefore

propose that I continue my contacts, in an appropriate manner, with the governments

concerned. Even if these contacts should not lead, immediately, to an exchange of

15,000 Bengalis and 20,000 Pakistanis, theycould start a process of movement. It

will be necessary, on the one hand, to clarify certain issues and, on the other, to

consider a re-scheduling if necessary of the numbers and categories of persons who

would be the first to move. These matters could, probably, be best pursued on the

spot. I would therefore consider it appropriate, shortly, to follow through personally,

or through members of my staff, on the discussions held in the course of the mission

just completed. I would, concurrently, and in the light of my contacts with the two

governments, continue to make enquiries concerning the most appropriate manner of

arranging transportation./.

AMIEX I

APPOINTMENTS IN PAKISTAN

26 May, 1973

0800 hrs

1050 hrs

1200 hrs

1330 hrs

1530 hrs

1730 hrs

1845 hrs

Arrival at Rawalpindi Airport by PIA.

Meeting with ICRC/Pakistan. Mr. Michel Martin(Chief Delegate)

Meeting at the Presidency, Rawalpindi, with H.E.Mr. Aziz Ahmed (Minister of State for ForeignAffairs), Mr. Mumtaz Alvie (Foreign Secretary),Mr. Abdul Sattar (Director-General, South Asia)

Luncheon, hosted "by the Minister of State forForeign Affairs. Discussions continuing. Allabove present, as also the Secretary and JointSecretary of the Cabinet Division, the Secretaryof Information, the Director-General (UN), theSwiss Ambassador, the UNDP Resident Representativeand other Government officials.

Departure for Murree

Meeting with President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto(Also present Mr. Abdul Sattar and Mr. Rizvi)Tea at President's house

Return to Rawalpindi

27 May, 1973

0900 hrs Departure by UNMOGIP plane for Srinagar

28 May, 1973

AfflffiX II

APPOINTMENTS IE DACCA

0800 hrs

1000 hrs

1100 hrs

1JOO hrs

1600 hrs

1700 hrs

1900 hrs

2000 hrs

Arrival by IMROB sky-van.

Meeting with Mr. E. Karim (Foreign. Secretary),Mr. A.K.H. Morshed (Director-General, Sub-Con tinent ),Mr. A.. Ahsan (Director-General,

Meeting with above continued, with H.E. Dr. KamalHossain (Foreign Secretary) now in chair

Lunch, hosted by Ambassador Lacoste. All abovepresent, as also Mr. J. Courvoisier (Head of theICEC delegation)

Courtesy call on H.E. Mr. A..S. Chowdhury, Presidentof Bangladesh

Meeting with H.E. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, PrimeMinister of Bangladesh

Meeting with Mr. J. Courvoisier and other ICRCdelegates

Dinner, hosted by H.E. Dr. Kamal Hossain, discussionscontinuing during and after dinner

29 May,1973

1015 hrs Consultations at working-level with ForeignMinistry

1500 hrs Call on Ambassador Lacoste and his senior staffat UHROB Office

1600 hrs Final round with H.E. Dr. Kamal Hossain

1750 hrs Departure for Calcutta by UNEOB sky-van

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•'-'•• J' ' ••-•'".•' Note for the record ' ' , , - . ,".' ',"",•'"•.-.'.• ;.' "V. •'-'.. - ".'••:•""

••..;. In a telephone conversation held In the evening of iH May 1973

the Secretary-General instructed"the High Commissioner for Refugees to •;

proceed to Dacca and Islamabad'as soon as possible for discussions" in :"

his capacity of Executing Agent for .the. return of 15SQOO Bengalis and .-.j.-

the'possible-repatriation of 20j000 Pakistanis as set forth in the .'. '-,

recent letter from Sheikh Mujib. The Secretary-General suggested.that•

the High Commissioner should visit Dacca first. He also made clear that'•'-•;..

there should be no link between this'limited operation and the package deal

involving the P0¥s, the Bengalis' and the Biharis. In this connexion ;

he _stated that the Special Representative of Sheikh Mujib, Fir. Siddiqui,

whom he had seen the same morning, had indicated that there -would be

no link between the two undertakings."; •"•'-.'.^-i-;.-•.;..-..'-'•;••;-'••':-:--:-.',-:. ; ; ' • ;

15 May 1973

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