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TWO days ago the nation ‘commemorated’ — or it should have even though to the majority it may have little significance — the 40th anniversary of the signing of the instrument of surrender by the commander of the Pakistan forces in East Pakistan and the commander of the Indian forces of Eastern Command at Ramna race course at one minute past five in the afternoon of Dec 16, 1971.
Thus died the Pakistan founded and made by Mohammad Ali Jinnah, a mere 24 years previously. It had had a brief painful life with acrimony never absent between the two wings of the country separated by ‘enemy’ territory.
Writing elsewhere, a columnist last week suggested that “the first order of national business should be on the teaching of history. For this is a country with no use for history”. No, history plays no part in the national psyche nor in the thinking process (if there be one) of those who have over the years been put into or taken over the leadership of this nation divided unto itself.
It has been forgotten amidst the present-day hysteria of anti-Americanism that has overtaken both rulers and the ruled, fuelled by what is known coyly as the ‘establishment’ that in 1971 the breakaway of East Pakistan was the most traumatic event in the country’s short life.
The population of what was left of Pakistan was reduced by more than half (and, boy, have we now made up for that with an unwieldy population of 180 million that cannot be supported in far too many ways). Territory was lost as was the geopolitical role in Southeast Asia, plus a significant portion of the economy.
Arrogance battling with ignorance and a false sense of superiority led the west wing, whilst the east wing fretted and fumed.
When things came to a head after atrocities committed by both sides during the fraught year of 1971, and hostilities broke out — war with our large neighbour — it was the state-controlled media that covered up any and all truth — just as the free media, subject now to self-censorship, sensationalism and hysteria is fuelling a ‘crush USA’ campaign rather than as it was then a ‘crush India’ mode. This country never seems to have had an awareness of its own weight and strength.
Lest we all forget, and for those that just do not know, reproduced here is the instrument of surrender signed on that sad day long ago when perhaps, at a rough guess, two-thirds of our population were not even born. The people, plus the leadership, need to either remember or know:
“The Pakistan Eastern Command agree to surrender all Pakistan Armed Forces in Bangla Desh to Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Indian and Bangla Desh forces in the Eastern Theatre. This surrender includes all Pakistan land, air and naval forces as also all para-military forces and civil armed forces. These forces will lay down their arms and surrender at the places where they are currently located to the nearest regular troops under the command of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora. “The Pakistan Eastern Command shall come under the orders of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora as soon as the instrument has been signed. Disobedience of orders will be regarded as a breach of the surrender terms and will be dealt with in accordance with the accepted laws and usages of war. The decision of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora will be final, should any doubt arise as to the meaning or interpretation of the surrender terms.
“Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora gives a solemn assurance that personnel who surrender shall be treated with dignity and respect that soldiers are entitled to in accordance with provisions of the Geneva Convention and guarantees the safety and well-being of all Pakistan military and para-military forces who surrender. Protection will be provided to foreign nationals, ethnic minorities and personnel of West Pakistan origin by the forces under the command of Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora.”
Signed by J.S. Aurora and A.A.K. Niazi on Dec 16, 1971.
So, 79,700 regular Pakistani soldiers and paramilitary troops were prisoners of war in Indian hands, together with 12,500 civilians. Thirteen hundred men were lost in battle — as opposed to how many thousands lost in today’s battle fighting the scourge of terrorism, mainly homegrown.
The army had told the nation it would fight to the last man. It failed in its promise. Military and civilian governments over 24 years, in their arrogance and incompetence, which had seeped down into the masses, had played their part in the loss of half a country.
Horrible things happen in war — that is what war is all about, killing. We are up in arms about the Salala tragedy quite forgetting about the thousands of other soldiers who have lost their lives battling with terrorism inflicted by our own people through circumstances of our own making. Pakistan does not stand tall and proud, despite what the establishment-geared government might tell us. And it cannot afford to stand alone for too long.
America is no pushover. The prime minister has made noises about soon reverting to what was ‘normal’, cooperation in an attempt to sort out the dangers posed by the Afghan situation. It will have to happen.
Pique over what may well have been an accident and dreams of ‘strategic depth’ are not going to get us far. The pity is that in the US we are now left sadly short on the diplomatic front. Voices of sanity are few, and to them no one listens. Skill is needed to ward off the isolation
now faced and any further humiliation.
arfc@cyber.net.pk
I was present at Ramna that afternoon. Vividly remember the surrender documents being signed. Then A. K. Niazi handing his revolver to J. S. Aurora and saluting him.
Some locals shouted at Niazi, but Indian soldiers present there immediately acted to prevent him being harmed.
However, 40 years on the lessons do not seem to have been learned. The current wretchedness cannot be overcome until & unless – as per A. Cowasjee – voice of sanity prevails.
I have read Cowesjee for years and he seems to be the only sane voice who can teach the politicians what is truth.
I do recall Fall of Dhaka as I was in Calcutta and knew Lt.Gen.Arora well and did discuss future of Paksitan and her development but never dreamed of reaching at such situation of self destruction
Pakistan is sleep walking towards self destruction.
Jaan-e Kalaam / My pick of the piece: >>>>> "This country never seems to have had an awareness of its own weight and strength."
I don't see any possibility of moving forward.There are deep divisions and weak commitments.Above all a tendency to strike grand postures.
im a student of international relations , and in my point of view the biggest problem of Pakistan is leadership crises ;( .. Who would be fair,patriotic. Who can bring out the best talent , who can put things on right track… only than we would be able to learn lessons from history to live a better presence and a promising future for next generations.!
I agree with Mr. Cowasjee hundred percent. But have we learnt any lesson?
I am an American with no connections to Pakistan or India. I read Dawn regularly because an Indian friend referred me to it. I read Cowasji faithly because I like (but do not always agree) with what he says. He is a good writer, maybe a great writer? Reluctantly, I must agree with another MK that few in Pakistan apparently read him.
I totally agree with the writer and some of the comments, specially one my M Khan. Like many, I am also witness to the surrender as a teenager. But let us not go back to 40 years once every year. We just need to peep in the recent months and years and ask ourselves what have done to "us" ?
We despite known many Brutuses, are still in love with one of these many and quietly letting them us push into a fathomless quagmire.
This is a great tragedy that we have many good writers today, but not many good readers and leaders……..
I am an Indian residing in the U.S. for about 40 years and can reassure all that I do not carry even an iota of bitterness or such other feelings towards Pakistan or its people. The important thing is – as Cowasji writes – the aggressive approach by Pakistani leadership and establishment to forget/not remind people of history. This may well have more tragic results in times yet to come.
I consider fall of Dhaka as the biggest tragedy of my life…altough i was a small boy even not a shcool goig kid at that time …but i always feel sad about it…very sad…i lost my father due to this tragedy..the father whom i just remember that he was my father…even i cant recall how used to look and how he used to hug me….Have we learnt any lesson…no….not at all…God bless us…Ameen
I remember that fateful day quite well. Even though I was a teenager, I still recall the terrible sadness and the sense of despair that I felt, and saw in the faces of those around me. There was a sense of profound shock. A sense of disbelief that such a fate could befall us as a nation, even though it was all too clear that it was the inevitable outcome.
In retrospect, the real tragedy in not what happened 40 years ago but that as a nation we learned nothing form such a traumatic experience. Unfortunately, we are still a nation dependent on handouts doled out by a superpower like America. The current reality of US-Pak relationship could be encapsulated by one of Sakespeare's famous lines from "Julius Caesar" :
"the fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars but in ourselves that we are underlings."
—- MK in Colorado, USA
The Question is does anyone read what you write and more importantly does anyone understand what you write. Where are the thinking men and women of this nation?
The answer to your first question is: yes. The answer to your second questio is: in USA, UK and places not in good old Pakistan!