President. I want to take this opportunity to commend the administration for this positive step in our national policy toward South Asia. For nothing has symbolized more the heavy measure of support we have been giving to the military regime in Pakistan. than the continued shipment of American military suppliesand nothing has symbolized more the bankruptcy of our approach to the crisis in South Asia--carried out in the name of leveragethan the continuing repression in East Bengal and the flow of refugees into India. Buteven at this late stagethe action announced today by the Department of State is a welcome first step in what I hope will be a redirecting of our policy in South Asia. There are a number of other things our country should do. as well. Some of these additional steps were outlined in a report I issued last week. The report is based on my recent visit to the refugee areas in India. and hearings before the Subcommittee on Refugees. which I serve as chairman. One of the more important steps which should be taken is for our Government to facilitate an immediate visit with Sheikh Mujibur Rahman by representatives of the International Committee of the Red Cross Mission in Pakistan. Such a visit falls within the expressed mandate of the missions program currently underway in Pakistan and East Bengal.
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Refugees refugee refugees