Statement on the Vietnam situation on December 30, 1972

The world heaved a sigh of relief when in October this year an agreement in principle was reached between the Representatives of the United States and of the People’s Democratic Republic of North Vietnam to end the hostilities in that war-ravaged land.

Two months have passed and that long-awaited end to a long savage war for which mankind had fervently hoped has remained elusive; instead of the cease-fire the United States has resumed the bombing of North Vietnam with increasing ferocity.

We, in Pakistan, were hoping that better counsels would prevail to overcome the difficulties that have suddenly arisen after the announcement of the basic agreement. In Pakistan we are still taunted for the alleged atrocities committed by us over a year ago to keep our country together. Who will find the word to describe the calculated devastation done to make a civilized part of humanity return to the Stone Age?

The people of Pakistan deplore and condemn the resumption of hostilities and we earnestly pray in the name of humanity that the peace agreement be re-prepared soon to put an end to poignantly long chapter of senseless bloodshed and destruction in Vietnam War.