CHAKWAL: The superiority complex and indifferent attitude of West Pakistan’s politicians, generals and bureaucrats led to the fall of Dhaka, retired Lt-Gen Abdul Majeed Malik writes in his autobiography, a rare admission for a senior military officer who was directly involved in the war of 1971.

Titled ‘Hum Bhi Wahan Mojood Thay’ (We Were There Too), the book is expected to be formally launched on Friday at the Islamabad Club.

The five-time MNA from Chakwal, who has also served as a federal minister and an ambassador, was the director general Military Operations (DGMO) in 1971. In the fourth chapter of his memoir, he writes that there was hardly any harmony between the two wings, East Pakistan and West Pakistan, adding that the people of East Pakistan considered them an “occupying army”.

Jute, he writes, was Pakistan’s sole major export at the time of partition and it was produced almost exclusively in East Pakistan but the people of East Pakistan complained that the revenue generated was only being spent in West Pakistan. Recalling the language controversy, he maintains, “Although the people of East Pakistan were physically weaker than us, they were ahead in terms of education and political consciousness.”

Lt-Gen Abdul Majeed Malik’s memoirs recount his life from World War II to Kargil and beyond

“In March 1971, when the decision to arrest Mujibur Rehman and launch a military operation was made, I was visiting Dhaka as DGMO. There is some truth in the stories of cruelties perpetrated by Pak Army against the people of Bengal. I witnessed some scenes with my own eyes. I saw from the helicopter that many villages were burning as army troops were advancing. In the evening, when army officers gathered, they would feel proud over their actions.”

The book also recounts his experiences ranging from World War II and partition down to the 2013 general elections.

Writing about the Kargil military incursion, Lt-Gen Malik holds retired Gen Pervez Musharraf and his deputies responsible for the “misconceived military adventure”, saying that Musharraf kept Nawaz Sharif and Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani – who was the then-commander of the 12 Division that is responsible for defending Kashmir – in the dark.

He recounts the events of May 17, when the prime minister was first told about the operation at the headquarters of Inter-Services Intelligence. Malik writes that being federal minister for Kashmir Affairs and Northern Areas, he accompanied Foreign Minister Sartaj Aziz and Defence Secretary Chaudhry Iftikhar Ali Khan, all of whom opposed the operation.

“When things got worse in April and May, the army leadership decided to give the government a briefing.”

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif chaired the meeting, which included Sartaj Aziz, Gen Iftikhar Ali Khan (the brother of Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan), Shamshad Ahmed Khan, Tariq Fatemi, Chauhdry Shujaat Hussain, Raja Zafarul Haq and himself from the government side. The army brass was represented by Gen Pervez Musharraf, Commander 10 Corps Gen Mehmood, Chief of General Staff Gen Aziz, Director General Military Operations Gen Tauqir Zia and Northern Areas Commander Gen Javed Hassan.

In his book, he holds five generals responsible for the Kargil misadventure; Gen Pevez Musharraf, Gen Mehmood, Gen Javed Hassan, Gen Aziz and Gen Tauqir Zia.

Describing the first martial law, which he terms the “father of all martial laws”, he recalls that when a typed resignation was placed before Maj-Gen Iskander Mirza, he was left dumbstruck, but later signed it. When Naheed – his wife who kept a large number of pets at the Presidency – saw the resignation file, she is famously said to have exclaimed: “What will become of my cats”.

Lt-Gen Malik joined the PML-Q in 2002, but writes candidly that this was a mistake.

Criticising the appointments of successive army chiefs, he maintains that senior generals have always been passed over in favour of juniors, except in the appointment of Gen Jahangir Karamat.

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2015

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