NO DATE
M/ 126 30 August 1973
PRIE MINISTER ', LC0T-17 NEW DELHI AGREE1TENT
The Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs,
Mr Whitlam, today welcomed the news that agreement had been
O reached at New Delhi for the resolution of some of the issues
that have remained outstanding between India, Pakistan and
Bangladesh since the war in 1971.
Mr Whitlam said that the agreement to repatriate almost
all of the Pakistani prisoners of war and civilian detainees, and
to allow Bengalis in Pakistan to return to Bangladesh and some
Deonle in Bangladesh desirous of doing so, to go to Pakistan,
O would help to alleviate major humanitarian problems resulting
from the conflict of 1971.
It was understood that over a quarter of a million
neonle were involved in the nroposed exchanges.
The achievement of the Indian and Pakistani negotiators
at New Delhi was in accordance with the resolve of their
resnective Governments expressed in the Simla Agreement that
" the two countries put an end to the conflict and confrontation
that have hitherto marred their relations and work for the / 2
-2-
promotion of a friendly and harmonious relationship and the
establishment of durable peace in the sub-continent".
Mr Whitlam noted that Bangladesh, which had been consulted,
had concurred in the agreement now achieved at New Delhi.
Australia, which enjoyed friendly relations with India,
Pakistan and Bangladesh, hoped that the way would now be clear
for normalisation of relations between all the countries concerned.
The Australian Government, Mr Whitlam said, would continue
to take a sympathetic interest in developments. 0