16 December 1971 marked the end of a nine month long saga of chaos; genocide, arson and rape, when Pakistan army surrendered East Pakistan to the Indian army. This day is etched as the day of ultimate betrayal in the hearts and minds of many Pakistanis who were promised by their President and Commander in chief that the fight would continue indefinitely, just a few hours before their 96,000 soldiers surrendered in Dhaka.
“Kill three million of them,” said President Yahya Khan, “and the rest will eat out of our hands.” Robert Payne writes in his book titled ‘Massacre’, referring to a meeting of Pakistan army’s top brass held
on February 22, 1971.
“For month after month in all the regions of East Pakistan the massacres went on,” writes Robert Payne. “They were not the small casual killings of young officers who wanted to demonstrate their
efficiency, but organized massacres conducted by sophisticated staff officers, who knew exactly what they were doing. Muslim soldiers, sent out to kill Muslim peasants, went about their work mechanically and efficiently, until killing defenseless people became a habit like smoking cigarettes or drinking wine. … Not since Hitler invaded Russia had there been so vast a massacre.” Robert Payne goes on to assert through his analysis that military dictatorship is the most corrupt form of government.
R.J. Rummel, in his book ‘Death by government’ describes: These “willing executioners” were fuelled by an abiding anti-Bengali racism, especially against the Hindu minority. “Bengalis were often
compared with monkeys and chickens” said Pakistani General Niazi, ‘It was a low lying land of low lying people.’ The Hindus among the Bengalis were as Jews to the Nazis: scum and vermin that [should] best
be exterminated. As to the Moslem Bengalis, they were to live only on the sufferance of the soldiers: any infraction, any suspicion cast on them, any need for reprisal, could mean their death. And the soldiers were free to kill at will. The journalist Dan Coggin quoted one Punjabi captain as telling him, ‘We can kill anyone for anything. We are accountable to no one.’ This is the arrogance of Power.
Susan Brownmiller, in her book “Against our will: Men, women and rape” puts the number of women raped from 200,000 to 400,000. She wrote, “Eighty percent of the raped women were Moslems, reflecting the population of Bangladesh, but Hindu and Christian women were not exempt. … Hit-and-run rape of large numbers of Bengali women was brutally simple in terms of logistics as the Pakistani regulars swept through and occupied the tiny, populous land …” Brownmiller quotes a description of one such assault which targeted a recently-married woman, as reported by Aubrey Menen: “Two [Pakistani soldiers] went into the room that had been built for the bridal couple. The others
stayed behind with the family, one of them covering them with his gun. They heard a barked order, and the bridegroom’s voice protesting. Then there was silence until the bride screamed. Then there was silence again, except for some muffled cries that soon subsided. In a few minutes one of the soldiers came out, his uniform in disarray. He grinned to his companions. Another soldier took his place in the extra room. And so on, until all the six had raped the belle of the village. Then all six left, hurriedly. The father found his daughter lying on the string cot unconscious and bleeding. Her husband was crouched on the floor, kneeling over his vomit.”
The human death toll reported during this nine month long genocide varies from 300,000 to 3 million. Mukti Bahini, the armed volunteers waging guerilla war against Pakistan army with the help of India,
avenged by murdering Biharis, the urdu-speaking migrants. Tens of thousands of Bihari men, women and children were murdered, their property looted and women raped. Biharis saw another round of murder after December 16, as Bengalis celebrated their independence by killing the friends of Pakistan army.
With signing of the surrender document, 96,000 Pakistani soldiers and civilians were interned into Indian jails and camps. Indian government that gloated on the success of their war against traditional rivals and gleefully announced themselves as liberators of Bengalis, did not mind sending the perpetrators of genocide back to Pakistan, after a deal was struck on border disputes. Those who committed murder and rape of their fellow countrymen in East Pakistan returned home to
receive pension from the national ex-chequer and they were awarded lands. A commission was set to investigate the war but its findings were never made public in Pakistan.
Two and a half million Biharis languished in refugee camps and their demand to be repatriated to Pakistan was struck down by various Pakistani governments. Families in those refugee camps lived under inhuman conditions for almost four decades and saw another generation grow-up. A few months ago the Supreme Court of Bangladesh decreed that Biharis be considered citizens of the country and allowed them to vote.
The army took over the rein of power again in Pakistan in 1977 and executed the elected Prime minister. They partnered with America in their war against Soviet Union in Afghanistan and the world forgot their crimes of 1971. There was military operation in Baluchistan. Sindhis were brutalized during Zia’s regime and Pakhtuns have been thrown in a war for 3 decades. The army/ISI, with its choke-hold on President Zardari’s government seems poised to push Sindhis into a clash again.
Pakistan army continues with its murderous ways and receives praise and aid for its efforts. With the International tribunal conducting trials and issuing warrants against culprits of crimes against
humanity, one wonders whether Pakistan army did commit any crime or the victims of their crimes were not humans.
Ibrahim Sajid Malick is a Pakistani-American writer, technologist, and social entrepreneur. He has been writing on Pakistani society and politics since 1986. He has held several media, communications, and technology positions for organizations large and small. Mr. Malick graduated from New School for Social Research with a master’s degree in anthropology. He holds several technology and management certifications. He works for a leading technology firm and blogs at www.ibrahimsajidmalick.com
saree duniya ek taraf aur pakistani wouloo ek taraf,cha hai kuch bhi karlo kute ki dum tedhi hi rahegi,Bundar kya kayhata hai nahi jante “meri hi gaand lal”kunke ke har ek pakistani ki gaand ek hinu mari huei hai,esiliye just ignore those paki pigs named them selves as paki army is best ,abye sale tu kya bhang pee kar aya hai,yaeda kahin ka,i just pray towards god please infect all those rapist and pak army with HIV AIDS,aur kissa hi khatam ho jaye.bullshit eater pakistan army is the best.
@solapurpune sari duniya aik taraf .. teri maa aik taraf.. kya ghaand marwati hai.. kahti hai. jo pakistani meri ghaand maartay hain aisay salay ghandoo indian hindu nahi maartay.. balkay indian hindu ghaandoo to khood pakistanio kay lun kay shoqeen hain.. solapurpune ki maa ki ghaand jo pakistaani phaaartay hain waisi koi nahi phaartay.. sali issi lie solapurpune ki maa pakistanio kay lun le kar khot maar leti hai.. aur kahti hain.. lun hai to pakistanio ka..
indian womens nay ab naye tahreek challanay ka ilaan kia hai.. woh kahti hain yeh kya sania mirza.. aishwarya rai.. reena rai.. aur sari ameer indian hi sirf pakistanio kay lun kay mazay lenay kay lie rah gae hain.. hum ghareeb indian aurato ka b pakistanio ka lun lenay ka haq hai.. humaray indian mard to ghandoo hain.. to government say request hai kay hum poor indian woman ko b pakistanio ka lun lenay kay chance denay chaheay..
is par indian government nay ilaan kia hai kay ab her indian aurat ki ghaand pakistani phaara karien gein kion kay indian mard to khood ghandoo hain.. issi lie indian government nay aisha siddiqui aur sania marza ki ghaand jab khuub achi taran phat kar bahar aajanay kay baad solapurpune ki maa aur bahno ko chodwanay kay lie pakistan bhaijnay ka irada kia hai
@Ghulam Rasul:
True there, freaking fools pop up on internet. Our government should hunt these freaking fools down for speaking indian sponosored shit against the country.
The negative propaganda against Field Marshal Yahya cant be tolerated. We are proud of him what he done in 71 that was his national duty to counter terrorist in East Pakistan. This kind of propaganda arise again in 2010 when we that his son Ali Yahya will become the next president of Pakistan after this bad PPP nightmare. Lot of people supports him especially Powerful financial stones.
F**k those who are against this royal military family.
Yes Yahya Back again
India ki maa ki chut.. saray indian hindoo ghandoo sun lo.. jin ko bara maan hai kay woh kargil ki jung jeetay the.. India ki Ghaand phat gae thi aur kharish zada kuttay ki taran jung say baagh gaya tha. See this link for proof.
http://www.defence.pk/forums/military-history/59939-indian-general-india-actually-lost-kargil-war-gen-pal.html
F U C K India. F U C K Bangladesh. who are here hiding in the indian names. F U C K Sajjad Malick. F U C K all traitors of Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
yaar indian ghandio.. abhi to kargil namoona tha.. bohat jald poora india pay Pakistan ka flag hoga..
Allah Bless Pakistan Army and Pakistan.. Mushi Kutta will go to hell..
This writer is mental problem. He knows no reality and is talking shit. The bastards Bengalis raped there own womans and helped bhindian army for defeating Pakistan. Otherwise no defeat for Pakistan would happen. The madarchod bengalis are cowards & scared of true Pakistanis and knew that they cant beat us as we are superior to them so they ask for Bhindia’s help and betrayed our Pakistan Army. BASTARD BENGALIS. BHANGEE SALE.
The people who commented here some of you are defending Rape and Murder. Listen up you fools, one day when your mothers and sisters will be raped and your sons and fathers will be murdered for no reason come here and comment about defending these actions. We will see…What goes around comes around. Inshallah.
“Tell the truth even it goes against you”
In this whole string of discussion there are really sick remarks in favour of Pakistani army actions in East Pakistan in 1970-71. In the world of internet you never know the reality rather these are ‘idiot supporter’ or the rivals of Pakistan army.
Regardless of body count, this is fact that Pakistani Army did really ugly and bad moves in East Pakistan. Even when it was happening there were people in West Pakistan they stand against these atrocities. Don’t we remember Habib Jalib’s loud and clear poetry on this issue? We should learn from history and evaluate the historic events in light of high human values not on the basis of our affiliation
@Pakistan Army is Best: plz get ur facts right, who says india is afraid of pak army, kis army ki baat karte ho, jiske 96000 fauji hindustaan ne qaid kar liye the, haha ha ha ha……
I strongly that these acts of berberism are not belonged to Pakistan Army. However, if these are true than it is the best way to take severe action against the treachery. Pakistan Paindah Abad
@ proud india. Ulla kay pathay kia tum 1965 aur 1998 ki Kargil Jang ki mar bhool gay ho? Pakistan Army is the best ever in this universe. Woh din door nahin jab yehi army thum Hindoon ki gand mein killa thookay gi.
@ Ratul_Al_Banghali_Al_Canadian. if u are treacher then every nation and army will do the same as you done. No bengali woman was never raped and no bengali were even murdered without any cause by Brave Pakistan Army. Note it.
@James Bond: abe maa k lore. 1965 ki war ma tere maa bahan or pure india ki gaand bnd kr di thi na. tbi direct panga nai lia tm ne pakistan se warna is bar tere b phat k hath ma ajati, or ya jo tmhari army ne machis patakhey rakhey hoe han(neuclear weapon so called) ya apni bahn ki phudi ma dal k aag lga lo.
@Saima: welldone sister. i apreciat your feelings and knowledge about all this. u r right pak army is the best. which has the courage and tactics for war and peace.
@proud india: nai hm us army ki bat kr rahe ha jis ne 1948 or 1965 ma tmhari eent se eent bja di thi. or tmhe sir chupane ko jga nai mil rahi thi. tmhare tanks or jet fighters ese gir rahe the jese baloon phat rahe ha. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahah
@SURYA,INDIAN: mera number le le sali. bol kb chodne aon tuje????/
Excerpts from “Blood and Tears” Book by Qutubuddin Aziz
Looking at the tragic events of March 1971 in retrospect, I must confess that even I, although my press service commanded a sizeable network of district correspondents in the interior of East Pakistan, was not fully aware of the scale, ferocity and dimension of the province-wide massacre of the non-Banglis.
I must stress, with all the force and sincerity at my command, that this bock is not intended to be a racist indictment of the Bengalis as a nation. In writing and publishing this book, I am not motivated by any revanchist obsession or a wish to condemn my erstwhile Bengali compatriots as a nation. Just as it is stupid to condemn the great German people for the sins of the Nazis, it would be foolish to blame the Bengali people as a whole for the dark deeds of the Awami League militants and their accomplices.
I have incorporated in this book the acts of heroism and courage of those brave and patriotic Bengalis who sheltered and protected, at great peril to themselves, their terror-stricken non-Bengali friends and neighbours. On the basis of the heaps of eye-witness accounts, which I have carefully read, sifted and analysed, I do make bold to say that the vast majority of Bengalis disapproved of and was not a party to the barbaric atrocities inflicted on the hapless non-Bengalis by the Awami League’s terror machine and the Frankensteins and vampires it unloosed. This silent majority, it seemed, was awed, immobilised and neutralised by the terrifying power, weapons and ruthlessness of a misguided minority hell-bent on accomplishing the secession of East Pakistan.
The sheaves of eye-witness accounts, documented in this book, prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that the massacre of West Pakistanis, Biharis and other non-Bengalis in East Pakistan had begun long before the Pakistan Army took punitive action against the rebels late in the night of March 25, 1971. It is also crystal clear that the Awami League’s terror machine was the initiator and executor of the genocide against the non-Bengalis which exterminated at least half a million of them in less than two months of horror and trauma. Many witnesses have opined that the federal Government acted a bit too late against the insurgents. The initial success of the federal military action is proved by the fact that in barely 30 days, the Pakistan Army, with a combat strength of 38,717 officers and men in East Pakistan, had squelched the Awami League’s March-April, 1971, rebellion all over the province.
Typical of the open-air, human abattoirs operated by the Awami League-led rebels in East Pakistan in 1971 is this photograph of multiple-executions done by a Mukti-Bahini killer squad in Dacca Race Course. The pro-Pakistan Bengali and non-Bengali victims were tortured before being slain
The hundreds of eye-witnesses from towns and cities of East Pakistan, whose testimonies are documented in this book, are unanimous in reporting that the slaughter of West Pakistanis, Biharis, and other non-Bangalis and of some pro-Pakistan Bengalis had begun in the early days of the murderous month of March 1971.
Looking at the tragic events of March 1971 in retrospect, I must confess that even I, although my press service commanded a sizeable network of district correspondents in the interior of East Pakistan, was not fully aware of the scale, ferocity and dimension of the province-wide massacre of the non-Banglis.
I must stress, with all the force and sincerity at my command, that this bock is not intended to be a racist indictment of the Bengalis as a nation. In writing and publishing this book, I am not motivated by any revanchist obsession or a wish to condemn my erstwhile Bengali compatriots as a nation. Just as it is stupid to condemn the great German people for the sins of the Nazis, it would be foolish to blame the Bengali people as a whole for the dark deeds of the Awami League militants and their accomplices.
Qutbuddin Aziz incorporated in his book the acts of heroism and courage of those brave and patriotic Bengalis who sheltered and protected, at great peril to themselves, their terror-stricken non-Bengali friends and neighbours. On the basis of the heaps of eye-witness accounts, which I have carefully read, sifted and analysed, I do make bold to say that the vast majority of Bengalis disapproved of and was not a party to the barbaric atrocities inflicted on the hapless non-Bengalis by the Awami League’s terror machine and the Frankensteins and vampires it unloosed. This silent majority, it seemed, was awed, immobilised and neutralised by the terrifying power, weapons and ruthlessness of a misguided minority hell-bent on accomplishing the secession of East Pakistan.
The 170 eye-witnesses, whose testimonies or interviews are contained in this book in abridged form have been chosen from a universe of more than 5,000 repatriated non-Bengali families. I had identified, after some considerable research, 55 towns and cities in East Pakistan where the abridgement of the non-Bengali population in March and early April 1971 was conspicuously heavy. The collection and compilation of these eye-witness accounts was started in January 1974 and completed in twelve weeks. A team of four reporters, commissioned for interviewing the witnesses from all these 55 towns and cities of East Pakistan, worked with intense devotion to secure their testimony. Many of the interviews were prolonged because the Witnesses broke down in a flurry of sobs and tears as they related the agonising stories of their wrecked lives.
I am the lone survivor of a group of ten Pathans who were employed as Security Guards by the Delta Construction Company in the Mohakhali locality in Dacca; all the others were slaughtered by the Bengali rebels in the night of March 25, 1971”, said 40-year-old Bacha Khan.
“I heard the screams of an Urdu-speaking girl who was being ravished by her Bengali captors but I was so scared that I did not have the courage to emerge from hiding” said a 24-year-old Zahid Abdi, who was employed in a trading firm in Dacca. He escaped the slaughter of the non-Bengalis in the crowded New Market locality of Dacca on March 23, 1971 and was sheltered by a God-fearing Bengali in his shop. The killers raped their non-Bengali teenage victim at the back of the shop and later on slayed her.
What do you have to say to all this ? Please get your facts straight before publishing anything against the pakistan Army , You can refer to some excellent books by Sarmila Bose and it will clear your perspective – Long Live pakistan and Long Live Pakistan army
@Hamza: Hamza donot believe so fast what ever other people say Yahya Khan was a puppet of Nixon he was not a muslim there might have been some bad behavior but the numbers this man is giving is unbelievable I was a teenager at that time very media savy didnot hear on BBC orVOA didnot hear about this massacer BBC would have made headlines why is this guy bringing this now trying to maliyn Pakistan Army India had invaded East Pakistan may be there Army did all these horrible acts this is a propoganda to destabalise Pakistan
@PakArmyZindabad: behncod tmhare logon ka asli chehra saamne aa gya…terrorist ki aulaad
@PakArmyZindabad:
muslamaan kee alsi aukaat
Its bullshitt Read TEARS OF BLOOD BY QUTBUDIN AZIZ
All zulm was done by indian troops and indian agents Author was also an indian agen but after withdrawal of PAKISTANI ARMY he wrote he realized the real face of indians they tooted there houses raped womens killed PAKISTAN supporters.
PAKISTAN ARMY FOUGHT WITH BRAVERY IN 1971 NO POST WAS CAPTURED BY INDIAN ARMY THEY DROP THERE TROOPS BY HELIKOPTERS IN DHAKA.
AND NOW PAKISTAN ARMY IS 4TH POWER OF THE WORLD THESE ARE THE FACTS AND U KNOW THAT.
Please read TEARS OF BLOOD.
@Mohammad Mughal: LONG LIVE PAKISTAN AND PAKISTAN ARMY AMEEN!
@thakur: tUM LOGON HIMMAT KAHAN HAM SE AANKH MILA KER BAAT KER SAKON HAM NE 1600 YEARS TUM PE HAKUMAT KI HAI AUR YE B FACT HAI K TUM MEN SE BOHAT SE HAMARI AULAD HAIN AKBER NE KITNI HINDO AURTAIN RAKHI HOI THAIN TUM JANTAY HO GAY AUR PAKISTAN ARMY 1948 1965 1971 KARGILL ARAY TUM BACHHAY HO APNI ARMY SE POOCHO K PAKISTANI KIA CHEEZ HAIN.
@Hamza:
humari hindustan ki army apni ma ko nhi chorti bhi hum tou han raa or mosaad or america israeal ka pitho
or ya wali zindgi maza ki guzaren ga
@Shaukat:
shokat bhai chalo aaj kali mata ka pas chalta han oska charno ma kuch muslmano ka khon bhayen ga,
richerd bh sath hoga
m from pakistan army, just wana say that we are still ready to fuck indians and blow their damn bloody bumps, pakistanis, dunt fight with them, so kindly finish this all. let indians do wat they want just like a baby drinking americas and israeli milk.lolx…..no all pakistanis, kindly, no comments.
@KHURRAM KHAN:
Yes, Rightly said, Pakistan Army Zindabad!