Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Qamar Bajwa on Wednesday said that East Pakistan debacle was political failure not a military one and the nation must also remember the martyrs of the 1971 war, ARY News reported on Wednesday.
In his Defence Day speech, his last one as army chief, General Bajwa said during the 1971 war, 34000 Pakistani soldiers bravely confronted more than four hundred thousand troops of enemy in East Pakistan so the nation must not forget their sacrifices.
“A nation that forgets its martyrs, disappears from the annals of the history,” said COAS Bajwa.
At the start of his last address as the army chief during the Defence and Martyrs’ day ceremony at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, General Bajwa apologised for the delay in the Defence and Martyrs’ day ceremony due to the floods.
“Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to the martyrs who are the pride of Pakistan while acknowledging the patience of their bereaved families,” he said, reassuring that the army will continue to fulfill their financial needs.
“I feel proud to have served as the commander of this great army for six years,” General Bajwa said adding that the peace in cities and villages is accredited to the sacrifices of its martyrs.
Touching upon history during his address, the outgoing army chief said that he wanted to “correct” some facts regarding the events of 1971.
“1971 was not a military, but a political failure. Our army fought courageously in East Pakistan,” the COAS highlighted.
General Bajwa, during his address, said that the basic job of the armed forces is to protect the geographical boundaries.
The COAS said that armies around the world are seldom criticised, however, Pakistan Army is often subjected to criticism.
“I think reason for that is the army’s involvement in politics. That is why in February, the army decided to not interfere in politics.”
“Many people subjected the army to criticism and a false narrative was created to spread chaos in the country,” he said, reiterating that the military leadership can do anything except for going against the county.
He said the army had initiated its process of “catharsis” and expected that political parties would follow suit as well and reflect on their behaviour. “This is the reality that there have been mistakes from every institution, including political parties and civil society.”
“No single party can take Pakistan out of the current economic crisis,” he said, adding that lessons should be learned from such mistakes so the nation could move forward.
“In 2018, using RTS as an excuse the winning party was called selected,” he recalled, adding that after being ousted via a no-confidence motion one party named the other as “imported.”
“We need to reject this attitude, winning and losing is a part of politics and all parties should have courage to accept their defeat or victory so that in next election instead of an imported or selected government an elected government is formed,” he maintained.
