The growing threat of war between India and Pakistan creates an urgent need for United Nations intervention —but not on the terms proposed by Islamabad.

President Yahya Khan of Pakistan has appealed to Secretary General Thant to mediate between the two countries and has suggested that United Nations observers be posted on both sides of the border between East Pakistan and India to supervise a mutual withdrawal of forces. These would be helpful developments, but they would not solve the basic issues threatening South Asian peace — persisting military repression in East Pakistan and the continuing flight of refugees into India.

The unprecedented flow of destitute refugees constitutes, in effect, a bloodless aggression against India— although the campaign of terror in East Pakistan which precipitates this flow is by no means bloodless.

It is not just a question of the heavy financial burden that an estimated 9.4 million refugees impose on India's struggling economy. The graver threat is to the political and social stability of India, particularly in volatile West Bengal, where most of the refugees are concentrated. Unless the refugee flow can be speedily reversed, India faces an internal crisis of frightening dimensions. But the refugees will not return to their homes until repression ends in East Pakistan and the political crisis is solved.

If U.N. intervention on the subcontinent is to be effective, therefore, it is essential that it be directed at the roots of the problem. Any mediation effort by U Thant or his representative should be in the first instance between the Pakistan Government and leaders of the outlawed Awami League, the elected representatives of the people of East Pakistan—not between Islamabad and New Delhi. Any call for a mutual withdrawal of forces must be accompanied by vigorous efforts to repatriate the refugees under conditions of justice and security.

Although India is in an excellent position to press for broader U.N. action of this sort, the Indian Government so far has been strangely cool to any intervention by the world organization. Prime Minister Gandhi's recent plea for restraint on the part of her people would be more reassuring if India's military buildup along the Pakistani borders were tempered by a more positive Indian response to Pakistan's diplomatic initiatives.