Sharp verbal clashes between India and Pakistan in the United Nations General Assembly strongly reinforce Secretary General Thant's recent warning that the situation in East Pakistan endangers international peace.

The two giants of the Indian subcontinent are clearly on a collision course that could lead to open warfare before the current session is ended, especially if Bengali guerrillas—some of them operating from Indian sanctuaries—continue to step up their activities.

The charge by Indian Foreign Minister Swaran Singh that the Pakistani Government has unleashed a reign of terror in the rebellious Bengali province is substantially confirmed by the pathetic tales of refugees still pouring into India. The over‐all refugee total is now estimated by India at more than nine million, an unprecedented human catastrophe that places intolerable strains on India's economic, social and political life.

Mr. Singh dismissed as “eyewash” the recently established civilian regime in East Pakistan—an evaluation difficult to refute as long as Pakistan persists in the imprisonment and secret trial of Sheik Mujibur Rahman, leader of the party that won 167 out of 169 seats from East Pakistan in last December's election.

The Pakistani response that India is instigating and abetting the revolt in East Pakistan as part of a “well-planned military effort” ignores the long‐standing grievances that fueled the Bengali move for autonomy and the harsh military crackdown that fired the later demand for outright secession. Nevertheless, it is true that India is resisting Pakistani efforts to have a U.N. investigating team look into the whole situation. It also seems that some Indians see in Pakistan's current troubles a priceless opportunity to divide and permanently weaken a hostile and resented neighbor. The Indian Government's apparent deep involvement in support for Bangla Desh liberation forces must surely lead at some stage to major conflict between Indian and Pakistani troops.

Such a conflict would be ruinous for both sides. India and Pakistan have a strong mutual interest in finding a political solution to the East Pakistan problem, one that will recognize the special needs of the Bengalis for greater equity and autonomy while preserving the principle of national unity so vital to both countries.

The primary responsibility for initiating a political solution obviously lies with Pakistan. There can be no hope for peace while Pakistani soldiers continue to terrorize their Bengali countrymen or as long as the military regime in Islamabad refuses to deal with East Pakistan's elected leaders. But India could contribute to a solution by encouraging moderation among the Bengalis and by abandoning a self‐righteous posture that is wholly unwarranted in the light of India's own sorry record on Kashmir.

A special responsibility for the deteriorating situation in South Asia falls on Washington. The Nixon Administration's continuing military and economic support for Islamabad has encouraged Pakistani intransigence and fed frustration in Bengal and India. It is time the Administration heeded Congressional demands for a reversal of this disastrous policy.