Word: bangladesh
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Dates: during 1970-1979
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...emotional post-midnight session of the National Assembly, Bhutto argued that it was time for "mutual forgiveness and understanding" to govern relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, formerly Pakistan's eastern wing. "We want to meet one another; we want to embrace one another; we want to shed tears over one another, over what has happened in the past," he declared. The Assembly overwhelmingly passed a resolution authorizing recognition of Bangladesh as an independent country...
Bhutto said that he would not use the authority immediately, but it obviously paves the way for a compromise by the subcontinent's three antagonists. Bangladesh wants recognition in order to obtain United Nations membership this fall. Pakistan is anxious for the repatriation of its 90,000 prisoners of war still in India-and India is almost as anxious to get rid of them...
...agreed last week that the repatriation of prisoners will be discussed by Pakistan and India in high-level talks next week. At the same time, the fate of some 200,000 Bengalis who have been held hostage in Pakistan since the war and want to return to Bangladesh will be negotiated along with the disposition of about 250,000 Biharis in Bangladesh who want to go to Pakistan. Bhutto told TIME that Dacca's intention to try 195 P.O.W.s was still "the main hurdle" to successful negotiations...
...Bengalis held in Pakistan: "They get newspapers, they get the radio, they get books, and they get allowances. But I am sorry to say that they have been segregated. I use the word sorry sincerely. I didn't like to do it, but [Bangladesh Prime Minister] Mujibur Rahman's chauvinistic policies drove me to this painful decision...
There were strong hints that the Bengalis would be defendants in a series of "show trials" if Bangladesh carried out its threat to try Pakistani military officials. Pakistan has adamantly opposed such trials on the ground that soldiers who committed atrocities should be tried by Pakistani military tribunals. Since General Tikka Khan, who led the military suppression of the Bengalis, is now Pakistan's army Chief of Staff, Bangladesh is unmoved by that argument. Dacca last week denounced the raids on the Bengalis as "barbarous," and Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh said that Pakistan's action "can only...