বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (দ্বাদশ খণ্ড)/১৬৪
| শিরোনাম | সূত্র | তারিখ |
|---|---|---|
| সাবেক সেনাবাহিনী প্রধান জেনারেল কাউল-কর্তৃক বাংলাদেশ প্রশ্নে সরকারী নীতির সমালোচনা | হিন্দুস্তান স্ট্যাণ্ডার্ড | ৩১ জুলাই, ১৯৭১ |
We Blundered By Not Intervening In Bangladesh, Say Gen, Kaul
July 30-Gen, Kaul former chief of General Staff and author of the controversial, “The United Story” has criticized the Government for its failure to take timely action in Bangladesh, says YNI.
In his new book ‘Confrontation with Pakistan’ Gen. Kaul says: “We missed a great opportunity, the like of which may not come our way in the foreseeable future, We could have liquidated a substantial chunk of the Pakistani Army in Bangladesh and this would have weakened Pakistan considerably reducing major threat to our security, But we have missed the bus.”
India should lose no time in discussing with the Soviet Union and Japan the measures to be taken against China in the context of the present threat of a joint Sino-Pakistan military offensive against this country, Gen. Kaul suggests.
Criticizing the political leadership, Gen, Kaul writes: When suggestion were made in certain quarters soon after March, 25, that India should strike on aid of the liberation forces certain personages hummed and hawed and said that if we took armed action we would bring China in against us.”
And here, as thought troubled by haunting recollections of the NEFA campaign Gen. Kaul asks sarcastically: “But why should that have deterred us, remembering the boast that India was so well prepared militarily that it could take on China as also Pakistan”?
Gen. Kaul, as whose meteric career in the Indian Army was cut short by his voluntary retirement in the wake of the NEFA debacle in 1962, had, in his earlier book, sought to lay the main responsibility for the Indian military reserve on the political leadership particularly of the Prime Minister Mr. Nehru and his Defence Minister, Mr. V. K. Krishna Menon- and its alleged errors of judgment in forcing its decisions on the army commanders.
The present book which has been update to include reference to President Nixon’s dramatic July 16 announcement of his acceptance of Premier Chou En. Lai’s invitation top visit Peking.
“In view of the fact Pakistan may attack us in collusion with China, Gen. Kaul says. “We must strach and test our diplomacy and make advance arrangements with some friendly countries to cope with such a situation.
“Whatever we do, we must not allow China or Pakistan to take the initiative against us on the next occasion. Indeed we should take the first step the first step Ourselves with suitable allies once China or Pakistan creates provoking circumstances”.
Gen, Kaul says, If our Army had gone into East Pakistan in aid of the liberation force soon after March 25, we would have had overwhelming advantages. We would have found under two divisions of Pakistani troops engaged in putting down the civil war. It would have been the correct campaigning season.
“We would have caught the Pakistanis disembarking from ships along the coast line, without unloading facilities. The Civil population, hostile to Pakistan would have been emotionally with us and would have welcomed us for coming to its aid.
“But this action would have been possible only if there had advance plans of action. Actually, we did little except indulge in academic discussions and make empty gestures of sympathy.
Gen kaul goes to say, “As Pakistan has now inducted in East Bengal troops whose total strength stood at more than four divisions on May, 1. 1971, we are at a disadvantage with them operationally. If we had hit Pakistan and in march or April, 1971 we would have fought a war in the most favorable conditions.
“Now the initiative has passed to the enemy, who will choose the time and place which suits him most to hit us. Those who fear that recognition of Bangladesh might lead to war should ask whether not recognizing it will prevent one”.
After referring to the current political development in Pakistan, particularly Mr. Bhutto’s bid to gain power with the aid of younger army officers. Gen. Kaul “If Yahya wins in this struggle for power, there is likely to be a result in both wings of Pakistan.
In the present circumstances, Gen Kaul says, “The only course available to Yahya khan may be to wages war India, but, whether Pakistan has a war with India or not, one things seems certain: Once leadership in East Bengal passes into the arising hands, as is already happening. East and West Bengal inspired by China, may become an enlarged Bangladesh.
“China would told great influences in these two regions under one banner and would thus gain ultimately at the expense of both Indian and Pakistan”
Without outlining any definite plan or military action, the battle-scarred of the NEFA campaign proffers the following advice.
“Our Government should not take a month of Sunday to make an assessment speedy action as time is of great consequence, we should soon come to a concrete agreement with the USSR to meet this new threat.”