The Hindu : Opinion / Letters to the Editor : Damning disclosure

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jun 02, 2005

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

Damning disclosure

The disclosure by Gohar Ayub Khan, son of Ayub Khan, that a brigadier in the Indian Army sold a secret war plan to Pakistan for Rs. 20,000 in 1965 has come as a shock. Gohar has also claimed in his to-be-published memoirs that the officer is said to be alive. But Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said it is not even known whether the brigadier is alive or dead. And that it is difficult to believe that an Indian brigadier could divulge secrets for money. While a probe is yet to begin, why make premature statements? Though the possibility of Gohar's allegation being

false cannot be ruled out, New Delhi should conduct an impartial probe and not pre-judge the issue.

Baru Rajendra Prasad,
Hyderabad

* * *

Mr. Mukherjee's prima facie disbelief notwithstanding, in the past too there were instances of senior officers turning into quislings. Investigation into the allegation should be done in-house, scrutinised by the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Defence and then the findings consigned to the records, as patriotic Indians would like to be spared the agony of the findings.

K.P.G. Menon,
Ottapalam, Kerala

* * *

India was not prepared for the 1965 war. I was recalled from leave during the first week of August 1965 [the first major engagement between the regular armies of the two sides took place on August 14]. In the initial stages, there was confusion and lack of coordination. Such being the state of our war-preparedness, where is the question of a comprehensive detailed war plan? It is another matter that once we consolidated, we captured so many Patton tanks that we called a stretch of land at the Bhikiwind village in the Khem Karan area Patton Nagar.

It is worth bearing in mind that Gohar Ayub Khan, as Pakistan's Foreign Minister, put a spoke in the wheel of the India-Pakistan peace process.

Wg. Cdr. (retd.)

Subramania Sankaran,
Chennai

* * *

A publicity exercise for a book is too trivial for reaction. During wars and the period leading to them, treason, sabotage, desertion, and gathering military intelligence are normal activities. Acts of valour are also common.

India must thank Gohar for his `revelation.' All that he says cannot be untrue. There is also a lesson to learn. Keeping one plan in a comprehensively detailed manner is a risk, a fact even Ayub Khan reportedly admitted.

Sqn. Ldr. (retd.) B.G. Prakash,
Bangalore

* * *

The media could have surely waited till December 2005 (when Gohar's memoirs are due to be published) to look into the exact content before blowing it up. The allegation is serious. It warrants responsible handling, preferably by official India. It is not advisable to play with the morale of our armed forces and citizens.

P.J. Joseph,
Chennai

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