ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s biggest ever war game “Zarb-E-Momin’ was ‘eyewash’ aimed at covering army excesses during the martial law regime, according to Air Marshal (retd) Noor Khan.
“I failed to understand how the people, who were despised only a few moons back in martial law regime, have become heroes of today,” Air Marshal Khan said while participating in a forum organized by leading English daily.
Air Marshal Khan, considered being one of the leading stars in the 1965 war, felt that the army chief, Gen. Mirza Aslam beg had been over-exposed by the media in the recently concluded army exercise.
Referring to the exercise, he said this planning for only a two week war had already cost Pakistan a lot in the last three wars with India.
“This is limited war philosophy as we are presuming beforehand that the next war wills be a shorter one and will not go beyond two weeks,” he remarked.
To reinforce his view, Air Marshal Khan said in 1948, the army had almost reached Srinagar (capital of Kashmir) but “we ran out of resources. Had we taken over the entire valley at that time and held plebiscite under the supervision of the United Nations with our own army in control of everything, Kashmir would have been ours.”
He said again in the 1965 war with India, Pakistan had sent its troops into Kashmir thinking that the valley would fall within a fortnight. “We failed due to this limited war strategy” he said. The Air Marshal wondered why should India, with its heavy industrial base and all its strategic advantages, resort to a short war. Even if it lost eastern Punjab even Delhi in any future war, there was no chance of its surrendering, he felt.
Air Marshal Khan stressed that India was far ahead of Pakistan in every respect. “The only way we can counter it is by making alliances with countries that suit us, and also by strengthening the country economically.”
He cited the examples of France, Finland and other countries which had ensured their safety by entering into such alliances. He felt that the United States was unlikely to come to Pakistan’s rescue if a situation arose and China’s help was also doubtful.
Pakistan he felt, had won some strategic advantages right at the outset during the 1965 war since India was caught unaware. “We should not take it for granted that this will happen again.”
He was of the view that this was an era of long wars and Pakistan should be in a state of preparedness for such a exigency.
Referring to the government of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) he said since it was in a minority, it was weak and not in a position to take bold decisions.
According to the Air Marshal, he had suggested to the then Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto that the army should be overhauled and trials held against those responsible for the East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) debacle.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 12, 1990
