THIS IS MY STORY—75
MY JOURNEY THROUGH THE ERA OF AYUB KHAN TO THE TIMES OF IMRAN KHAN.
GHULAM AKBAR………
PRESSURE IS A STATE OF MIND
Asghar Khan told me years later about how on his return from China on the night of the 17th of September 1965 he had received a call from a friend informing him of the scheduled meeting of the U.S envoy with Ayub Khan the next morning to finalize plans for a ceasefire agreement.
”I was stunned,” said the Air Marshal” I couldn’t believe, Ayub Khan could let Indian go off the hook, so close to a deceive push. Early next morning I was in the presidency, seeking an appointment with Ayub Khan. His military secretary told me that the president wasn’t available because of the his scheduled meeting with the American Ambassador. But I insisted and somehow managed to meet the president who was quite apologetic. He said he was powerless as the pressure from abroad had mounted. I told him; PRESSURE IS A STATE OF MIND. IF YOU ACCEPT IT, IT IS THERE. IF YOU DON’T IT IS NOT THERE. WE WILL NOT EVER AGAIN GET THIS KIND OF AN OPPORTUNITY TO BRING INDIA TO OUR TERMS.
Ayub Khan remained apologetic. He was essentially a weak man. Despite being a great patriot, he did not possess the will to make tough decisions.”
On the 18th September 1965 Field Marshal Ayub Khan capitulated. A war fought bravely in the battle-field was lost abjectly in the political arena.
At that time the nation was unaware of what was going on behind the curtain, but the man, who was to rise from the ashes of that war as a national hero , knew.
ZAB had been the architect of the operation that had led to the war, the overall consequences of which suited his political ambitions. He knew that the decision of a CEASEFIRE was against the sentiments of the people. He delivered a fiery, impassioned and charged speech in the security council that was reflective of, and in complete harmony with the nation’s feelings and longings.
Right through the speech, an impression was given that at no cost would Pakistan agree to a ceasefire, but then at the end, his tone saddened and dropped. He raised a piece of paper and told the audience that he had just been instructed to confirm acceptance of ceasefire.
This drama had been staged by ZAB quite deliberately, with a long-term purpose in mind. He knew that the popularity Ayub Khan which had gained in the earlier days of the war, would drown in the sea of gloom at the ceasefire, and the resultant void could easily be filled by him-ZAB.
President Ayub Khan probably had sensed that Bhutto had ‘mischief’ in mind. Precisely why he sent S.M. Zafar to participate in the proceedings leading to the NOTORIOUS CEASEFIRE.
