Former Senator Javed Jabbar Tuesday said that the Dhaka fall was a great tragedy and it is unrealistic to have good relations of Pakistan with Bangladesh under Hasina Wajid's incumbent government.
He was speaking to the members of Pakistan Institute of International Affairs (PIIA) on the topic of "Loss of East Pakistan: A National Tragedy and International Milestones" held at the institute's library.
"Hasina Wahid has sowed an anti-Pakistan virus," Jabbar added.
He brushed aside the reports of international media that Pakistani soldiers were allegedly involved in rape incidents in West Pakistan during 1971 war.
He said Pakistan has proved to be a resilient country as it rose tremendously on the international front after it lost East Pakistan.
He said international community did not stand by Pakistan against India during 1971 war, adding that Pakistan was the first state to disintegrate after Second World War.
Dr Masuma Hasan, Chairperson PIIA said that strong disconnect between policy makers in Islamabad and people of West Pakistan had resulted in the Dhaka debacle in 1971.
"No political party should be blamed for West Pakistan tragedy as it was a collective responsibility [state institutions]," she added.
She said that Hamud ur Rehman Commission Report on the Dhaka fall was declassified in the year 2000 during Musharraf regime. She said that the report had revealed startling facts about 1971 war.
Referring to the report, she said the commission had examined 213 persons in first phase, including army personnel, government officials and later examined 72 prisoners of wars including General Niazi.
"The report finds that the chief culprit of Dhaka fall was General Yahya Khan as he never had interest in handing over power to a civilian government," she maintained.
She said that friendly countries had suggested in the report that political solution of the issue was to be found as India would invade Bangladesh.
"According to the report, General Niazi was bound to obey the orders of surrender," she concluded.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2019
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