Re: 6-23 September 1965 War, heroes, heroism and more
I thought 9 years old threads are not allowed to open again and again. You should have opened a new thread for 6th September 1965 when second war with India begun. I was kid at that time, but I still remember the evening of 6th September 1965. I came to know that war has started when I saw black out in Karachi after getting out from Bambino cinema after watching “Lord Jim” on 70 mm screen. Watching movie on that big screen (perhaps at that time Bambino had that big screen not only in Karachi but all over Pakistan) was a great feast. I asked my elder brother and uncle who were accompanied me why all lights were off? Why there was so much darkness in Karachi never seen before?
We thought Pakistan had won that war and Lal Bahadur Shastri died of heart attack in happiness when he got back all his territory won by Pakistan army during a settlement with Ayub Khan. But after so many years I came to learn that war was lost by Pakistan as all arms and ammunition were exhausted and no one was there to help Pakistan. Perhaps Sam supporting India against Pakistan, made Pakistan to force ceasefire. All efforts of great heroes who died in line of duty to save Pakistan were lost. The news of successes on all fronts are still echoing in my ears. Were Anwar Behzad and Shakil Ahmad were reading lies on Radio Pakistan to make fool and misguiding the people of Pakistan then?
One great thing happened at that time was people of West and East Pakistan united to fight this war in 1965. This kind of enthusiasm and cohesiveness were never seen before and afterwards of this war. In fact East Pakistan who fought side by side with West Pakistan against India wanted to separate from Pakistan in less than 6 years. After 1965 war Pakistan had continuously faced one disaster after another. And the trend is continuing…
6th September used be holiday in Pakistan every year to commemorate those people who lost their lives and celebrate Defense Day. Usually all news papers used to print stories and photographs of this war on this day. Not any more. This news is missing from “Daily Dawn” perhaps on all leading news papers, though nothing happened on that great day in Pakistan. The young and coming generations will be in dark, they will never know what happened in 1965 war with India? It is a shame.