NOVANEWS
By Sajjad Shaukat
16th December is the day of tragic memory when Pakistan was dismembered and a new state of
Bangladesh was created in 1971 as part of Indian conspiracy which still continues against the
India has a long-gone history of many centuries, based upon religious prejudice against the
Muslims. In this respect, Indian intelligence agency, RAW which was founded in 1968, has
assumed a significant status as invisible actor in formulation of India’s domestic, regional and
global policies, particularly directed against Pakistan.
Hindus give credit to Indira Gandhi who in the late 1970s gave RAW a new role to suit her
‘Indira Doctrine’ specifically asking it to undertake covert operations in neighboring countries,
especially Pakistan which comprises majority of Muslims. RAW was given a green signal to
mobilize all its resources by exploiting political turmoil in East Pakistan in 1971 which this
agency had created through its agents who provided Bengalis with arms and ammunition for
conducting guerrilla acts against the Pakistani defense forces.
Regarding the separation of East Pakistan, Indian RAW had unleashed a well-organized plan of
psychological warfare, creation of polarization among the armed forces, propaganda by false
allegations against West Pakistan, creation of differences between the political parties and
religious sects of East and West Pakistan, control of media, manipulating linguistic, political and
economic disputes in order to malign the Bengalis against Islamabad.
There is no doubt that one can note political, economic and social disparities almost in every
Third World country. India, itself, contains these disparities on larger scale. In seven states of
India, separatist movements are at work. But, New Delhi which has not recognized the existence
of Pakistan since partition, left no stone unturned in planting and exploiting differences between
the people of East and West Pakistan.
RAW has a long history of sinister activities in the East Pakistan, backing secular areas of Hindu
minority who had played an important role in motivating Bengali Muslims against West
Pakistan. RAW’s well-paid agents had activated themselves in East Pakistan in the 1960’s so as
to dismember Pakistan. For this aim, it took the responsibility of funding Sheikh Mujibur
Rahmans’ general elections in 1970 and the members of his party, Awami League. It colluded
with the pro-Indian persons and had paid full attention in training and arming the Mukti Bahnis
(Terrorists). RAW, playing with the bloodshed of Muslims, succeeded in initiating a civil war in
East Pakistan. However, huge quantity of arms started entering East Pakistan. Meanwhile, India
welcomed the refugees from East Pakistan, providing them with every facility to provocate them
Majib was already in connivance with India for separation of East Pakistan. In this connection,
Asoka Raina in his book, ‘Inside RAW: The Story of India’s Secret Service’, discloses, “Indian
intelligence agencies were involved in erstwhile East Pakistan…its operatives were in touch with
Sheikh Mujib as the possible ‘Father’ of a new nation-Bangladesh, who went to Agartala in
1965. The famous Agartala case was unearthed in 1967. In fact, the main purpose of raising
RAW in 1968 was to organise covert operations in Bangladesh. Indian army officers and RAW
officials used Bengali refugees to set up Mukti Bahini. Using this outfit as a cover, Indian
military sneaked deep into East Pakistan…the story of Mukti Bahini and RAW’s role in its
creation and training is now well-known.”
Asoka further explained, “Indian sources including journalists have put on record how much
RAW had established the network of a separatist movement through ‘cells’ within East Pakistan
and military training camps in Indian territory adjoining East Pakistan…carrying out acts of
sabotage against communication lines so that Indian forces simply marched in at the ‘right’ time.
RAW agents provided valuable information as well as acting as an advance guard for conducting
unconventional guerrilla acts against the Pakistani defense forces.”
It is mentionable that before the 1971 war, Mujibur Rahman, had announced a separate national
flag for East Pakistan in his six points which also included that currency of East Pakistan should
be different along with a separate military.
His six points created prejudice among Bengali people especially against West Pakistan. The
famous slogan, during his addresses and rallies was, “Punjabi dogs go back.” It was due to
Mujib’s instigation that besides Punjabis, Bengalis had also tortured and killed Biharis,
Pashtoons and Balochis, while their women were raped.
Now, Bangladesh’s Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid and her ruling party Awami League
have continuously been pursuing Indian directions by conducting anti-Pakistan campaign.
In connivance with New Delhi, Bangladesh government and Awami League have launched a
massive media campaign in order to spread venom against Pakistan and its armed forces and
against all those Bangladeshi nationals who were loyal to the state during 1971 crisis.
Since Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina Wajid came into power; India has been
employing various tactics to entrap Bangladesh by exploiting her pro-Indian tilt to fulfill its
strategic interests. In this context, Prime Minister Hasina Wajid has continuously been pursuing
Indian directions by conducting anti-Pakistan campaign. Therefore, after passing of 42 years to
the events of 1971, which resulted into the separation of East Pakistan, Abdul Qadir, the leader
of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) was hanged because of his loyalty to Pakistan. Recent executions of
Mujadid and Chaudry of JI were also part of the same scheme. Regarding all these executions,
international community raised doubts and noted flawed proceedings.
People of Pakistan have shared moments of happiness and sorrows with the people of
Bangladesh. The tragedy of dismemberment of East Pakistan was aimed at creating a compliant
country through Indian trained and financed terrorists (Mukti Bahini) who had killed thousands
of Pakistanis in cold blooded activities. In this connection, while addressing a ceremony during
his Bangladesh tour, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi openly stated on June 7, 2015 that
Indian forces helped Mukti Bahini to turn East Pakistan into Bangladesh. He elaborated that
former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had played an active role in separating Bangladesh
from Pakistan, and he had also come to Delhi in 1971 to participate in the Satyagraha Movement,
launched by Jana Sangh as a volunteer to garner support for the Mukti Bahini members.
It is notable that Indian leadership by exploiting the concerns of Bangladesh Army over the
raising of “Jatiyo Rakhi Bahini” (National vanguards) in 1972 once again created volatility in
Bangladesh by patronizing the killing of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. The supplementary purpose of
the incident was to make 1974 tripartite agreement dormant, as by the agreement Sheikh Mujib,
the father of Bangladesh had wished cordial relations among Pakistan, India and Bangladesh,
declaring “Bangladesh knows how to forgive and forget.”
To further keep the people of Bangladesh in desolation, fueling the hatred and creating
extremism in the society, Sheikh Hassina Wajid was incorporated into the Bangladesh Politics.
Since then through devious judicial trials, she has been executing elderly opposing politicians
and as an extension of her personal and political vindictive posture by manipulating the fateful
1971 event to further the Indian interests. Turmoil, so shaped continues to haunt people of
Bangladesh, as she is refusing olive branch offered by people of Pakistan.
Ironically, Awami League’s purported nationalism is based on fabricated figures about the
killing of three million Bengali people in 1971. Sheikh Mujib uttered this figure during an
interview with the British broadcaster, David Frost. It was not authenticated by independent
researchers or international institutions. During the conflict, only two division of Pakistan’s
Army with limited small weapons was deployed in East Pakistan and it has no motivation to kill
so many people in such a short conflict being fought in unfavorable operational situation.
However, genocide committed by Indian trained terrorists in East Pakistan cannot be ruled out.
Awami League’s delusions, under Sheikh Hasina’s are expected to create grave problems for
Bangladesh. The growing discontent in the country over authoritarian and vindictive rule of
Awami League vis-à-vis antagonistic approach towards Pakistan is causing a division in
A regards the so-called genocide of the Bengali people, a famous Bengali journalist Sarmila
Bose authored a book, “Dead Reckoning: Memories of the 1971 Bangladesh War” after thorough
investigation. She terms the number, a gigantic rumor, while Hamoodur Rahman Commission
Report considers even 26,000 as an exaggerated figure. Richard Sisson and Leo E. Rose in book
titled “War and Secession: Pakistan, India and the Creation of Bangladesh” and Gary Bass in his
book “The Blood Telegram” clearly admit that figures about so-called genocide were Indian
At present, the situation is turning bleak as foreign investments are evaporating and
unemployment is multiplying. The growing socio-economic degeneration is causing discontent
suiting the terrorist outfits like ISIS (Daesh). Their financers are taking full advantage to recruit
the combat terrorists and train them in contiguous Indian area for further insertion in various
regions. Its fallouts in Bangladesh are evident. Western media has reported about presence of
ISIS in Bangladesh. In the recent past, two foreigners were shot, while a Shia gathering was
targeted in the country. Extremist groups like Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Jamaat-ul-
Mujahideen Bangladesh have established affinities with ISIS and are very active these days.
Some of the Western countries even advised their citizen not to travel to the country.
It is optimistically suggested to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and other leaders of Awami
League that without indulging into a blame game, creation of Bangladesh may be acknowledged
as one of the most tragic chapters in the history of Pakistan—tragedies test the resilience of the
nations to survive and progress. Living in past sends the message of hopelessness, leadership
must rise to the occasion and guide the nation towards integration and prosperity.
Pakistan’s eagerness in fostering good relations with Bangladesh can be gauged from huge
investments in Bangladesh by Pakistani traders.
Bengalis must know that in the backdrop of Modi’s statement, role of India in dismemberment of
Pakistan through state sponsored terrorism (Insertion of Mukti Bahni) and Indian support to
separatist elements in Pakistan’s province of Baluchistan have already been exposed, as
Islamabad has recently presented solid evidence to the UN and the US in this respect.
Besides, world must take notice of Indian interventionist and hegemonic policies vis-à-vis her
neighbors. India occupied Sikkim, subdued Bhutan, sponsored terrorism in Sri Lanka and is now
Nevertheless, while rectifying the historical record regarding the events of 1971, government of
Bangladesh must mention that two Divisions of army (20000, which latter grew to 34000)
operating in adverse environment has no motivation to go on civilian killing spree. It must know
that if total number of troops was 34000, then how come the much publicized figure of 93,000
People of Bangladesh may identify their real enemies which are India and Awami League which
are creating conditions for break up of Pakistan and has made Pakistanis and Bengalis to fight
with each other. Now, they are again active to promote pro-Indian feelings through Awami
League and Sheikh Hasina’s government and gag the opposition, so that it can be turned into a
Nonetheless, as part of old anti-Pakistan campaign, Awami League conceals facts about the
separation of Pakistan.
Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants,
Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations
