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WHICH HAS BEEN THE SUBJECT OF THE RECENT CONTROVERSY ABOUT THE SUSPENSION OF PAKISTANI PENSIONS FOLLOWING THEIR REGISTRATION AS CITIZENS OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, AUSTRALIA OR NEW ZEALAND.
4. WE SHOULD ALSO HAVE TO SECURE A PUBLIC COMMITTMENT FROM BOTH THE INDIAN AND PAKISTAN GOVERNMENTS TO CONTINUE TO PAY PENSIONS TO CITIZENS OF INDIA/PAKISTAN WHO ARE RESIDENT IN THE OTHER'S COUNTRY. THE DEFENCE ADVISOR HAS RECEIVED PETITIONS FROM PAKISTAN CITIZENS WHO WERE RESIDENT IN INDIA AT THE TIME OF PARTITION AND WHOSE PENSIONS HAVE BEEN SUSPENDED BY THE INDIANS SINCE THE 1965 WAR. OTHERS ALLEGE THAT THEY CONTINUE TO RECEIVE THEIR PENSIONS BUT, IN COMMON WITH THEIR FELLOW! PENSIONERS STILL RESIDENT IN INDIA, EXPRESSED IN RUPEES AT A REDUCED RATE FOLLOWING DEVALUATION BY INDIA. ANY NEW ARRANGEMENT WHICH FINALLY DISCHARGES OUR RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS SUCH PENSIONERS MUST IN EQUITY ENSURE THAT THE GOVERNMENT S OF BOTH INDIA AND PAKISTAN ACCEPT A CONTINUING RESPONSIBILITY TOWARDS ALL PENSIONERS FOR WHOM WE DECLINE TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY, NO MATTER WHERE THEY ARE RESIDENT.
SIR C. PICKARD
[ADVANCE COPY SENT TO 0.D.M.]
OVERSEAS DEVELOPMENT DISTRIBUTION
SOUTH ASIAN DEPT.
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