Every year on 6th September, we remember the 17 days long Pak-India War of 1965. We often think and talk of wars in grand historic terms, but ultimately it is the lives of ordinary people that is touched in extraordinary ways in times of war. We sometimes fail to remember that soldiers are not just the pawns of history. They are people. Today we present a set of rare pictures of soldiers and people from the 1965 war.
Photo details (L to R): (1) An old villager appears to be quite amused as he is initiated into the mysteries of this AMX-13 tank left in Chamb area by the Indian Army. (2) Indian prisoners of war are cheering their favorites in the three-legged race in one of the camp’s sports meets. (3) Soldiers from Punjab Regiment at BRB Canal. (4) Pakistani soldier at Khem Karan marker. (5) Sailor on guard on the brow of submarine Ghazi. (6) No. 19 Squadron pilots.
After signing Tashkent Agreement (from L-R). Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, Pakistani Foreign Minister Z. A. Bhutto, President Ayub Khan and Soviet Union Prime Minister Kosygin. One interesting thing to note in this photograph is that everyone seems to be smiling and happy except Mr. Bhutto.
Note: All photographs used in this post, except for Tashkent Agreement, are from the website of Pakistan Defense Consortium. Click on each image for larger view.
jk, whether we like him or not, he is not a “bum” and Pakistan is a country not a company.
The representatives who people voted for have overwhelmingly voted for him as President. You may not like the choice, but if you don’t then form your own party adn run in the elections the next time. Right now we all have to respect the will of teh people. If it turns out to be wrong, hopefully people will make a better choice next time.
meengla > We have given him over a decade and a half. You don’t make a bum off the street the CEO of your company because well, maybe if we give him some time, he will do wonders.
You look at people’s past performance and then give them positions of power.
It’s like going to a university, and saying, “oh yes, I do have straight F grades in my entire school history, but please give me a chance and give me some time”.
Zardari becomes the president of Pakistan. Congrats to the Pakistani nation on the transition to full democracy!
PS. Eidee Man: Zardari is trying to revive the post-BB shell-shocked PPP. Give him some time please.
In first photograph, the soldier is wearing a Peshawari Chappal and seems like he is discussing situation in his Pind (village) with the old villager. Aur Chaacha, ghar me sab theek hai. Boota kaisa hai? haha.
No wonder why we see Bhutto all serious and Shastri all smiles. Bhutto resigned immediately after reaching home. Shastri couldn’t bear the happiest moment of his life and poor fellow died in Tashkent just few hours after signing the agreement. I wonder why he was so happy.
How did Pakistan lose the war when it defeated an Indian offensive ?