Today it has been 39 years since East Pakistan became Bangladesh. It has been longer that Bangladeshis have been politcially separate from Pakistan (39y) than they were together (24y). A new generation has grown up without seeing the time when the two countries were together. A lot of water has flown under the bridge since then and this is a good time for both countries to forgive and forget about the past. I would go as far as to say it should be okay to seek forgiveness from each other and say sorry for the war of 39 years ago. Nobody becomes smaller in stature by saying sorry except for inflated egos. It can only heal and make friends. And Pakistan needs friends.
We want to wish Bangladesh prosperity and good luck in their future.
Also see earlier posts at ATP:
2007: A Pakistani in Bangladesh
2007: Bangladesh Turns 36: Bringing Stranded Pakistanis Home
2008: History’s Ghetto: Stranded Pakistanis in Bangladesh
2008: Sahabzada Yaqub Khan
2009: 1971: A Blot of Shame
2009: 1971: The Lessons We Did Not Learn
2009: 1971: The Forgotten Silence
2009: 1971: Hum kay thehray ajnabi…
2010: Remembering Lt. Gen. Azam Khan
Contribution of Al Bar and A. Shams. Please see and now deic
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http://www.ummat.com.pk/2010/12/17/news.php?p=stor y5.gif
We should all thank Al Badr for trying to save pakistan. Do research to find who were Al Badr, Alshams.
AlBadr was a group of Bengali students belonging to no other than Islami Jamiat Talaba, who fought with pak Army to save East Pakistan
much has been said about the attrocities and human crimes commited by the troops of West Pakistan on the bengla speaking poeple of the west Pakistan. however, it has never been mentioned anywhere that what the Urdu spekaing population of the east pakistan went through and how they were victimised by the bengalis of the east pakistan.
i come from a “bihari” family which migrated to Pakistan after the partition of 1971. our family was among the most well off families of Dhaka but as the riots started we lost all our industries and became bankrupt. we lost many close friends and relatives who were murdered by the bengalis since they took a revenge on what the Pak Army did to their people.
when we moved to West Pakistn, we faced severe discrimination by the people of West Pakistan in schools, colleges, and even in the mosque. “bihari” is still a form of “gaali” in Pakistan. my only question to all of you is: What’s my fault?
some times I even wonder that there was a huge flaw in Allama Iqbal’s dream of Pakistan, he just couldnt foresee it.. his idea of Pakistan divided muslims in 3 separate countries.. together they could have been much better off…
@fuzair
Being a layman,I think one reason for such a high casualty rate amongst PA was they were out-numbered;
They were fighting on two fronts:Mukti Bahini and BSF,task made all the more difficult by lack or shortage of supplies.
@banjara286
Former Prime Minsiter Benazir Bhutto on her visit to Bangladesh paid a tribute to Sheikh Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s burial site and laid a floral wreath to the war dead in Bangladesh’s independence.
In July 2002 President Musharraf visited Bangladesh and regretted for the atrocities committed and apologized to Begum Khalida Zia for the same.This from no less than a person than the Pakistani Chief of the Army Staff.
Numerous delegations from Pakistan comprising eminent journalists and media persons have also expressed the same feelings on various visits.
Every year on Dec 16,Pakistan mourns and expresses regrets and remorse for the military action of March 1971 in which thousands of innocents were killed.
What more is expected from us?