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The 1971 East Pakistan tragedy was not just a failure of the military but also a collapse of civil society in the West Wing. The few voices raised against the military action were too feeble to make the army change its course, a course leading to military defeat and the break-up of the country. At the time, the author was General Officer Commanding 14 Division in East Pakistan. Apart from his direct narration of the events, his portrayal of the major dramatis personae, such as Field Marshal Mohammad Ayub Khan, General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan, Lieutenant General Tikka Khan and Lieutenant General A.A.K. Niazi, are insightful. A necessary text that demands scrutiny from all interested in the course of Pakistan’s history.
This work investigates the systemic collapse of civil and military governance in West Pakistan that precipitated the 1971 crisis and the subsequent secession of East Pakistan. The author, Khadim Hussain Raja, leverages his unique position as the General Officer Commanding 14 Division in East Pakistan to provide a firsthand account of the strategic failures and political miscalculations of the era. By analyzing the decision-making processes of key military leaders, the text argues that the tragedy was a result of both institutional breakdown and individual culpability within the upper echelons of the Pakistani military establishment.
What You Will Find
Experts and historians recognize this text as a vital primary source for understanding the internal dynamics of the Pakistani military during the 1971 conflict. Readers frequently note the candid nature of the author's reflections, which provide a rare insider perspective on the institutional failures that led to the country's partition.
Page Count:
154
Publication Date:
2012-01-01
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0195474414
ISBN-13:
9780195474411
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