From Our Correspondent
Delhi, May 16
India has told Pakistan that it is under "an unquestionable obligation" to facilitate the return of refugees to East Pakistan. This is the first time since the partition of the sub-continent that India has taken such a step.

In a note handed to the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi, India has reserved the right to claim from Pakistan " full satisfaction in respect of the additional financial and other burdens" undertaken to afford relief to "Pakistan nationals".

As the number of refugees increases — it is now more than two million — pressure on the Indian Government to be more firm towards Pakistan is building up. It is reported that at a recent Cabinet meeting at least two ministers said that in view of the way Pakistan was pushing refugees into India an ultimatum should be presented to Pakistan.

Mr. K. P. Tripathy the Finance Minister of Assam state, which borders on East Pakistan, has said that Pakistan's "deliberate army action to push millions of its citizens into India amounted to waging war".

Mrs. Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister, who has shown restraint so far, is apparently under great stress. After visiting some refugee camps at the border she said that India did not want to interfere with the the internal affairs of Pakistan, but, with the developments in Bangla Desh, especially with millions of evacuees entering India, "she could not remain unconcerned".

"We must do our best ", she said. "to help our brothers and sisters who have crossed over the border into India But we have limited resources." She expressed the hope that the struggle of the people of Bangla Desh would not be in vain and that they would ultimately achieve independence and form a democratic government.

The Indian Note said that "as a result of military action taken by the Government of Pakistan in East Bengal nearly two million Pakistani nationals have been forced to flee their homes and to take shelter in the adjoining areas of India. This deliberate expulsion of such large numbers of people from their homes has created a human problem of unparalleled magnitude, which is capable of producing serious repercussions in the area leading to a threat to peace in the region".

The bulk of refugees had come from the area within a 50-mile belt of Pakistan territory bordering on India. "It has also been established that these East Bengali refugees are the victims of a deliberate campaign of terror launched against them by the armed forces of Pakistan.

"The Ministry of External Affairs is gravely concerned at the fact that the Government of Pakistan have displayed total indifference and unconcern at the fate of these people, who are Pakistan nationals."

The note recalled that the Declaration of Human Rights and other universally accepted instruments of the United Italians guaranteed the right of people to return to their country. "The Government of India, therefore, hold the Government of Pakistan fully responsible for creating such conditions forthwith as would facilitate the return of these refugees to their homes.

"It is hoped that for this purpose the Government of Pakistan will desist immediately from continuing the terrorizing activities of the Pakistan Army."