Dec 16 tragedy (1).

Byline: Iftikhar Mirza - Islamabad

DECEMBER 16 is the darkest page of our history book when in 1971 East Pakistan seceded and Bangladesh came into being. A few lines are quoted here form the book The Betrayal of East Pakistan written by the most controversial character of this war, Lt-Gen A.A.K Niazi.

'The surrender ceremony took place on December 16, 1971. Maj-Gen Farman and Admiral Sharif witnessed the ceremony. As I signed the document with trembling hands, sorrow rose from my heart to my eyes, brimming them with unshed tears of despair and frustration. After deliberations, hectic efforts, and exhaustive discussions between the Indian and Pakistani teams, the move to evacuate the Pakistani personnel, both civilians and uniformed, was worked out. The move was to take place by trains, direct to Wagah border.

'According to the move plan, I gave directions that the first to move would be the civilians, followed by civil armed forces, the police, and then the armed forces. The senior officers of the three forces would be the last to leave...

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