16th December – an ominous day

It was ominous day that on 16th December 1971when Pakistan was dismembered as a result of an international intrigue and pernicious plan of India that had not reconciled with the partition of the sub-continent and creation of Pakistan. This is the day that Pakistani nation should introspect as to what led to dismemberment of Pakistan, and what steps should be taken that Pakistan never faces such a tragedy again. A lot many books and theses have been written on the causes of fall of Dacca and disintegration of Pakistan, and most writers and historians reject the propaganda of Awami League and India that three million Bengalis were killed and thousands of Bengali women were raped in 1971. Of course, many fatal mistakes were made by leaders of East and West Pakistan that exacerbated the contradictions between East and the West Pakistan.
Anyhow, distance between the two wings of Pakistan separated by over 1200 kilometers, and training of Mukti Bahini guerillas in Indian army camps that later moved along with Indian army units in the then East Pakistan were factors responsible for the breakup of our motherland. India’s propaganda about exaggerated figures of deaths of Bengalis had stoked the passions and stirred the emotions to take revenge of partition of India. Sarmila Bose, a noted British academic and senior research associate at the Centre for International Studies at Oxford University, in her book ‘Dead Reckoning: Memories of 1971 Bangladesh War’ exposed Indian machinations and lies. She had interviewed retired Pakistani officers in the west, and survivors of killings and their relatives in the east, and members of the non-Bengali and non-Muslim minorities in the quest for truth.
It is a matter of record, that Tajuddin Ahmed, the ‘prime minister of Bangladesh government in exile’ had announced the formation of a government on April 17, 1971. He had given seven-point undertaking to India that a para-military force for Bangladesh will be raised under the supervision of Indian military experts; Bangladesh shall procure all military equipment from India; shall direct her foreign trade under supervision and control of Indian government; and foreign policy would be compatible with Indian foreign policy etc, etc. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had attended award-giving ceremony to receive award on behalf of Atal Bihar Vajpayee as friend of Bangladesh, had confessed that India had played pivotal role in creation of Bangladesh. During his speech on 15th August 2016, Narendra Modi had tried to provoke the people of Balochistan, Gilgit and Azad Kashmir speaks volumes about ill- intentions of India to destabilize Pakistan. Therefore, the nation should not lower its guard.
On 16th December 2014, the entire nation was shocked and grieved when 130 people including more than 100 students were martyred and as many injured in a terror attack on Army Public School in Peshawar. Pakistan was in the vortex of terrorism for more than two decades, but this act of terrorism was the most horrific and barbarian act. After 1971, this was yet another tragedy whereby hearts of entire people bled for those martyred in a harrowing act. It was indeed a national tragedy, as nation’s children were targeted by the terrorists. Extremists and terrorists claim to be true followers of Islam but in fact negate the very Islamic teachings of peace, love, humanity and kindness. Unfortunately, the shenanigans of the fraternity’s extremist strands have given a handle to the compulsive detractors of our noble religion to depict it as a creed of violence and bloodletting.
It is because of those misguided elements rather savages that Islam is one of the most misunderstood religions of the world whose real spirit is being intentionally concealed and distorted. After every suicide attack or bomb blast killing innocent people, it is said that Muslims cannot do it. But when a Muslim militants group or organization claims having perpetrated such an act, one has to reconcile with the fact that there are enemies within. What a hypocrisy that we claim as the ummah of the last Prophet, whose forbearance, magnanimity, patience and steadfastness stand unparalleled in the annals of history. But in our actions, we negate the teachings of Islam and Prophet Muhammad’s (peace be upon him) sunnah. It was because of ruling elite’s deviation from the right path and failure to dispense justice that created contradictions in the society.