onwards. Whilst he was having these talks with us, he and his followers were secretly preparing for a final break, through physical violence. Towards the concluding sessions of the talks, it became quite evident that intention of Mujibur Rahman and his advisers was not to come to an understanding on the basis of one Pakistan but was somehow to extract from me a “proclamation” which would, in effect, divided the National Assembly into two separate constituent assemblies, give birth to a confederation and by removal of the authority of martial law create complete chaos in the country. Through this plan he expected to establish a separate state of Bangladesh. That, needless to say, would have been the end of Pakistan as created by the Father of the Nation.
Unscrupulous and secessionist elements of the defunct Awami League had brought the country to the brink of disintegration. Our dear homeland which symbolizes fulfillment of our aspirations and the culmination of the relentless struggle of the Muslims of the sub-continent was in very grave danger of breaking up. The violent non-cooperation movement of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman and his clique for over three weeks had let loose elements which at once indulged in widespread loot, arson and killing.
Vote was for provincial autonomy and not independence
The people East Pakistan had voted for provincial autonomy and not for the disintegration of the country Instead of settling controversial political and constitutional issues with mutual understanding and in a spirit of give and take for the sake of national solidarity, some of the leading elements of the defunct Awami League chose a path of defiance, disruption and secession. All my efforts to help the political parties to arrive at a consensus over an acceptable and lasting constitutional framework were frustrated by certain leaders of the defunct Awami League. On the one hand they brought negotiations to an impasse by their persistent intransigence and obduracy and on the other intensified their nefarious activities of open defiance of the Government. The very existence of the country, for the creation of which thousands of our brethren laid down their lives and millions suffered untold miseries, was at stake. It was in these circumstances that I ordered the armed forces to restore the authority of the Government. No Government worth its name could allow the country to destroyed by open and armed rebellion against the state.
The valiant armed forces of Pakistan who have always served the nation with devotion moved out with firm determination to put an end to the activities of the miscreants. They had a difficult task to perform. It is unfortunate that our neighbor which has never missed an opportunity to weaken or cripple our country rushed to help the secessionists with men and material to inflame the situation further. This was all pre-planned. As our troops moved forward and fanned out the whole dark plan of collusion between the Awami League extremists, rebels and our hostile neighbor gradually unfolded itself. It became obvious that secessionists, miscreants, rebels, and intruders from across the border had planned their whole operation carefully and over a considerable period of time. Their aim was to destroy the integrity of Pakistan and force the eastern zone to secede from the rest of the country. While miscreants, rebels, and intruders were putting up physical resistance to the Pakistan army, the Indian radio and press launched a malicious campaign of falsehood against Pakistan and tried to mislead
