NHS Media recently had a conversation with Barrister Hamid Bashani, focusing on the 1965 war.
Key Points:
- The evolution of Pakistan’s Defense Day celebration, shifting from a historical event to a more politically motivated commemoration, influenced by the ruling elite.
- The controversy surrounding the 1965 war, suggesting that the official narrative of a sudden Indian attack doesn’t align with historical evidence, and it may have been used to divert attention from political issues.
- The Tashkent Declaration, brokered by Russia, played a significant role in resolving the conflict between India and Pakistan and contained provisions related to the Kashmir issue, despite Pakistan’s alignment with the U.S. camp at the time.
- Defense Day should be a day of reflection and introspection, focusing on learning from past mistakes and charting a new direction for the nation.
In response to a question about Pakistan’s Defense Day, Bashani expressed that people’s observance of this day has changed over time. He emphasized that people tend to follow the lead of the ruling elite or the government in this matter. In the past, Defense Day was celebrated at the government level with various events and festivities. However, there is currently controversy surrounding the basis for celebrating this day and whether it is still relevant.
Bashani pointed out that the historical evidence and the official story of the ruling elite do not align. The ruling elite claims that on September 6th, India suddenly attacked Pakistan. This narrative was crafted by the leaders of that era, many of whom participated in the war and later portrayed themselves as heroes, taking the initiative to celebrate the war. Field Marshal Ayub Khan played a significant role in this.
The celebration of the war was also influenced by the fact that Ayub Khan had defeated Madam Fatima Jinnah in elections through questionable means, which caused significant disrespect. To divert attention from these issues, the government shifted its focus to the war, aiming to present a different image to both the world and the nation. According to some documents, the war actually began on July 24th, initially on a limited scale, and escalated to an attack on Lahore on September 6th. The United States was concerned about how to stop the conflict between India and Pakistan, as after the Operation Gibraltar, there was strong anti-Indian sentiment among the people. They sent individuals to India to gauge local support but did not receive the expected backing. India eventually took them hostage and accused Pakistan of infiltration.
To rescue their personnel, Pakistan launched Operation Grand Slam, which failed. India saw this as an opportunity to internationalize the issue and attacked on September 6th. While Pakistan portrays this as Defense Day, the documentation suggests that Pakistan was negotiating with the U.S. President to help end the war, and top generals were surrendering and complaining at the time.
Bashani emphasized that when examining the Tashkent Declaration, brokered by Russia (although Pakistan was not aligned with Russia at the time, being in the U.S. camp), it becomes clear that Russia played a significant role. This was due to the U.S. being preoccupied with the Vietnam War and fearing that Russia aligning with India or Pakistan could shift the balance towards China. Thus, they allowed Russia to become a peace partner in the resolution.
The Tashkent Declaration stipulated that the Kashmir issue would be resolved through discussions between India and Pakistan, following the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council. Historians consider this declaration to be a vague and open concept.
In conclusion, Bashani argued that there is no reason for celebration on Defense Day. Instead, it should be a day of reflection and contemplation, an opportunity to learn from past mistakes and chart a new course.
