East Pakistan's Civil War

Archive Report

Chaos in East and West Bengal

Massive Refugee Migration to Neighboring India

One of history's greatest, and most sudden, migrations is taking place across the border that separates East Pakistan and India. Driven from their homes by violence, chaos and fear, as many as seven million Pakistanis have sought safety in the Indian states of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, and Tripura. This mass movement has been compared to having the entire population of New Jersey abruptly flee to New York City and nearby counties. In one week, May 10–17, according to State Department figures, nearly one million East Pakistanis crossed the border into India.1 The influx doubled the population of tiny Tripura in barely two months. As of late July, the migration continued at a rate ...

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