33 Years and Counting

Dear Dr Waraich

I notice you have been personally affected being the daughter of one of the `missing` 54 POWs. The same is the case with me being a near relative of Fg. Offr Kishen Malkani.

I went through the extensive blog exchanges that your posting inspired and have therefore reposted an earlier blog posted a few hours back to Farzana. Many credible, capable, and influential correspondents have engaged eachother in this debate that is knawing the hearts of all of us suffering relatives.

I have proposed a course of action in my posting to Farzana that could perhaps be better achieved through your page since her original posting is quite old hence the repetition.

Love and courage to you,

pushpa


Dear Farzana,

You have ended your passionate blog with a prophetic query,
`Does not the appeal, “Join the army” sound like a slap to the parents, since they have been told he is not in the records?`

I whole-heartedly subscribe to this as is apparent with the unpopularity of seeking a career in the armed forces by many bright, intelligent, and adventurous youth.

It was not so in the past. (Its important you see my profile).

The mystery of the missing 54 POWs should not be allowed to die a natural death. The sacrifice of these warriors must never be seen as being in vain by the present and future generations. If even a SINGLE politician`s or big industrialist`s or media baron`s immediate family member had been thus sacrificed, am certain the `great mystery` would have been resolved long ago!

It is indeed tragic that opportunities have been bungled continuously, ever since we did not bargain for the return of even ONE POW in exchange for 2000 we magnanimously released at the end of the 71 war. Thats all water under the bridge now, and historians will forever debate the wisdom of confining the issue of POW exchange to the separate `fronts` in the war.

Getting back to the issue at hand: I begin with an incontrovertable argument, repeated unceasingly by concerned parties:
``It is incredible that all the POWs have simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971 or soon after, and that absolutely no official evidence of their remnants exist``.

I know for a fact that bereaved family members cannot bear to imagine what the state of their loved ones would be (if still alive) after 34 yrs. The treatment meted to undertrials is horrific. Loved families left behind have been made to believe by well-meaning friends that the POWs could not have survived for so long. They have bravely and reluctanly got on with their lives.

That is the practical and caring advice I have myself offered to the suffering families.

Yet, this is only one part of the story, conveniently consigned to limbo to save the families from further pain. For the rest of us Indians, such disgraceful history which mocks patriotism, should not be buried without a thorough post-mortem. It must be unearthed, no matter how painful or embarrassing to the perhaps well-intentioned secrecy of the powers that be.

One could formulate a rational course of action by first analysing the Why`s of this secrecy, and then proceeding through our still credible judicial system, to reach the truth.

Let us accept, however reluctantly, that it was/is not sheer indifference by our govt for not having aggressively sought the release/wherebouts/remains/ashes of the missing POWs. The deception goes way back, over three decades. Most assuredly the records are missing (if at all they were recorded), so its no use blaming our present intelligence agencies for hiding the truth. Even when they have apparently tried their best, they claim to have reached dead-ends.

What however is most unforgiveable, is that a trail which was `provenly existent` in the case of some POWs for many years, was negligently, if not purposefully, allowed to gradually disappear. Now, decades later, the vapours gets life through stray and mostly silly rumours, that serve no purpose excepting to revive hurtful memories.

Through my studies on the subject, and I can only reasonably conjecture, that soon after the war, there was a deliberate `understanding` by India and Pakistan at the very highest levels, to keep all information on the missing POWs absolutely out of view till the picture clears. There are plausible grounds for this conjecture which `a select few in the know` are only privy to, and it is to them we must appeal to `open-up`. The embarrassing disclosures may have been `protected` within the frame-work of larger peace initiatives redifining boundaries within the subcontinent. The Simla peace talks between Indira Gandhi and Bhutto went very deep into shared confidences regarding the possibility of insurrections and further dismemberment of Pakistan. Future perspectives must have been informally and confidentially discussed/hinted at, in the back-drop of military elites plotting to unseat Bhutto. After the cease fire, its likely that in the confusion and anger among `uniformed` Pakistanis for losing the eastern wing, many POW undertrials were randomly scattered, without proper accounting, to remote jails. Even Bhutto may have been disinterested (too busy scheming to remain in power), as also being kept out of the loop by the military. This is not impossible. Bhutto claimed to have been disturbed by the screams of demented POWs sharing his prison when he was himself awaiting execution by the military dictatorship that unseated him. That could have been a clever ploy/red herring by him to get India involved to save his neck. Its quite another matter that we donot know what he did as PM himself after the war to resolve the POW issue!

One fact that can be reasonably surmised, is Pakistan would have been disgracefully exposed to the world for its treatment to POWs had any surviving POWs been returned. Top Indian `negotiators` in their own wisdom may have also felt that families of the missing POWs should be shielded from such ugliness. As is the case with any criminal activity, evidence is destroyed. Probably the POWs have also, inevitably and sadly, been fated to this end.

Subsequent Indian Govts, excepting for some maverick attempts, went along with the earlier ones as a matter of policy. Both sides have connived in obscuring the issue with platitudes and sheer noise. Pakistan`s conciliatory gestures are an eyewash, because for all practical purposes, the trail is covered up.

The above long discourse is to better inform international forums and active NGOs towards formulating an achievable twin-track course of action to meet practicable ends:

1. Previous participants in peace negotiations with Pakistan, and those with credible information (bureaucrats, military, politicians, advisors etc) must be informally persuaded through wide publicity/legally coerced with absolution from prosecution for any infringement of law (Official Secrets Act) into revealing all that they know. This is indisputably in the larger interest of human justice. The primary thrust of the legal argument keeping this subject worthwhile, is what was stated at the beginning of this missive:
``It is incredible that the POWs have all simply vanished into thin air when the war ended in 1971, and that no evidence of their remnants exist``.
(A similar move could be informally initiated in Pakistan by the media and NGO`s. The spin-offs are substantial in furthering friendly relations between the two peoples of the present and future generations who carry no blame for past hostilities between the two nations).
Possibly there is a misconceived interpretation of what constitutes `secrecy out of compassion`, by those holding back. They must `speak out` now, even after 35 years, so that the wounds do not fester.
For sure it will be a long and protracted process as the facts are collated, for missing portions of history to get dispassionately updated. This is imperative for the faith of citizenry in democratic governance, and plain human decency.
I am not a legal expert, but I can suggest that active NGOs pursuing this matter `re-introduce` a well-defined PIL, as also petition our President.

2. Persuade Pakistan to actively cooperate in searching/rescuing/restoring any material that may have survived all these years. These should be handed over to the families through discreet NGOs

For this mission to succeed, the media `tamasha` MUST be kept totally out of this effort, till `after` it has been achieved. A guarantee of confidence to this effect must be made by all concerned. A vital and encouraging cog in bringing such a scheme to fruition is the President of Pakistan, General Musharraf. We must take him by his word when he claims that being a soldier himself, he is not devoid of compassion when it comes to the subject of the missing POWs. The General`s proactivity in facilitating this would immediatey ameliorate a small but vital portion of the pain by way of the sentimental memorablia being handed to the families of the missing POWs. He would deservedly earn our gratitude, and establish his image as a humane person.

I have noted on this blog-site the participation of many influential and concerned parties. I therefore hope the `message` reaches general Musharaff, because he HAS the power to help us realise what many would cynically dismiss as a `pipe-dream`..

With all hope
pushpa

34 years is a long time. Its time enough to determine the overwhelming economic development for both the nations, a time enough to have revolutionised the corporate sector, a time enough to make economic and political reforms for a country that feeds a billion people, but 34 years seem less to the governments of the two countries to have taken appropriate action to repatriate the missing war heros from the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

In a single word, id term it nothing short of ``Inhumane``

Are we, the families of the missing ones expected to fill a cauldron with lame and paralysed excuses from the two governments? Is there no single person in the political scenario that can empathise with the 34 year long turmoil that each one is going through?

I urge the people of both countries to spend a while thinking about the nature of justice that is offered to us a civilians of a democratic and secular and integral nation. Is there no person in this world, is there no organisation in this world, is there no law in this world, and is there no government in this world that can resolve this issue. Where are the media, news, UN, Amnesty, Human Rights Organisations, Red Cross, and Geneva Conventions?

When there is war between two countries, there is enemity, but even enemies show respect. Id like to question the government asking them where is the respect that they have shown to their soldiers who have been missing since 34 years. If not for them, their lands would not be free, they would not be living the life that they are today, their families would not be able to move in a country that is free from war.

However, the price is paid not by the people who make the laws or the ones who are vested with the power to act and make decisions. It is the people on the warfront who sacrifice their lives, it is their families who suffer, and its people like us who fight a 34 years long endless battle for justice, for what is rightly ours.

There is still time for the government wake up to our shouts and endeavour to bring its people back, before they realise that they have no armies, navy and air force anymore to fight for their motherland.


More information about the facts and battles about the missing 54 can be found at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/projectpow/

Here is something in today`s Hindustan Times on the Prisoners of Wars. At last it seems we are waking up.

Our soldiers deserve more

Excerpts:

``The Missing Defence Personnel Relatives Association (MDPRA) and the War Widows Association also had the support of noted politician and filmstar Raj Babbar.

``Addressing a press conference here on Monday, Raj Babbar said, ``I whole-heartedly support the relatives in their appeal to the Governments of India and Pakistan and to the people to urgently resolve this 34-year old case.````

``Encouraged by the support the Government and people of India have extended to Sarabjit Singh (mistaken as a RAW agent and charged in a case of serial bomb blasts), the MDPRA recommended that they should be sent to Pakistan to work along with any NGO, such as that of Asma Jehangir, to meet all the Indian prisoners and identify them.``

``For nearly three decades, 54 families have awaited the return of their sons, husbands, fathers and brothers. The UPA Government claims it`s doing its best. But the people want to know why the Government, inspite of such concrete evidence, has failed to secure the release of these POWs.``

Re: # 68
Don`t flatter yourself, it`s entirely possible for me to be biased against you because I know you!!!
Seriously though, I happen to think the following:
Omar did not do you any great favour by publishing your letter. He is not even the letters editor of Dawn. It was brave of his paper to admit that this could have happened.
I object to bunching together cases of POWs and regular prisoners. Why do people (rightly) make a fuss about Guantanamo bay, and the lack of the Geneva Convention being applied there, but forget that it does not seem to have been applied to these men, of whom your father was one?

#78 by dost-mittar

[If these prisoners are to be released, a way has to be found in which Pakistan can do so without it appearing that it had been lying all along.]

Fat chance! A nation that refused to accept the dead bodies of its own soldiers at Kargil fearing doing so would expose its involvement, will never release the Indian prisoners even if India went out on a limb to convince it that such a release would be kept confidential.

Simmi
I forwarded your earlier letters to Moni Basu, a staff reporter of Atlanta Journal & Constitution. I hope that she will be able to help you...

waraich:

``Mr Bhandara told NDTv that Gen Musharraf was an honourable man and would not keep any soldiers in prison as was being suggested.``

I salute your faith. But Musharraf almost certainly has all this information but he still hasn`t acted. He may be an honourable man but he has withstood pressure even from Americans wrt AQ Khan, Omar Sheikh and others when it was a matter of saving Pakistan`s face. There is something similar here. If these prisoners are to be released, a way has to be found in which Pakistan can do so without it appearing that it had been lying all along.

As for the earlier interact about the story on Gen Tikka Khan- I know it seems almost unreal but I believe Gen Tikka Khan was the governor of Punjab then in 1989 and I know Vijaya- she is a sincere journalist- the story may well be true.

Mr Bhandara told NDTv that Gen Musharraf was an honourable man and would not keep any soldiers in prison as was being suggested. Now read the following-

In a conversation with Mr. Harpal Nagra who is the president of the South Asian Human Rights Group reported that in connection with the Sarabjit Singh case, Mr Nagra’s agency had sent a delegation to Pakistan to Kot Lakhpat Jail in 2004. When his representative who was a Sikh man with a turban was visiting, he saw an older man (75 -80 years old, very thin) and he wished him salaam waalequm. The prisoner replied by saying Waheguruji ka Khalsa, Waheguru ji ki Fateh (a sikh greeting) and told him that he was in prison for many years with many more military prisoners and their cases had not been taken up as they were prisoners of war and they are not allowed to make any contact with outsiders. He said they had been forced to convert to Islam and read namaaz everyday. Mr. Nagra`s representative got further information that there are more than 400 prisoners in different jails as well as urns with remains of those who have passed away. He says that he did give this information to newpapers last year too.

waraich#74, 73:

Your facts are quite detailed and persuasive. If despite such evidence, the govt. has denied any knowledge of their existence, it reinforces my earlier remark that they are unlikely to admit to their presence now and expose themselves. This is unfortunately the nature of the state, national image comes before justice to individuals.

Maj. SPS Warraich’s name was reportedly announced on 5/6th December, 1971 as being captured alive after he and Maj. Kanwaljit Sandhu were captured on 3.12.1971 from the Hussainiwala sector. He was subsequently reportedly seen in Multan jail in January 1972. Again he was seen in 1988 by Mohinder Singh S/o Banka Singh, who was repatriated on 24.3.1988. He says he saw him again in Kot Lakhpat jail in February 1988. Gen Riaz told Mr Ashwini KUmar Ig BSF in 1972 at the Munich Olympics that Maj waraich was being kept in dargai jail of NWFP. Gen Riaz told him this as a personal favour after Ashwini Kumar had requested all his friends in Pakistan to inquire into the matter.

Time magazine of London, dated December 24, 1971, carried a photograph of Indian prisoners behind the bars. The said photograph turned out to be that of Major A.K. Ghosh, who was not returned by Pakistan Govt. with the rest of the PoWs.

2nd Lt. Paras Ram Sharma`s father heard his son`s particulars being announced on Pak Radio on Jan. 2, 8 and November, 29. L/NK Ram Lal (Retd.) (No. 9071130) of erstwhile 2 JAK Militia after his return from Pakistan said that he had met 2nd Lt. Paras Ram Sharma in Lahore jail for 5 days from 20.4.1973 to 24.4.1973 while awaiting his repatriation to India.

Balwan Singh, an Indian prisoner who returned home to India on 3.10.1998 after 9 years in Pakistan prisons, claims to have met Indian, PoWs of the 1971 war. He said there were seven jails in which the PoWs were rotated. He distinctly remembered one of the PoWs as Jagdish Raj who was being kept in “Phansi ki Kothi” (Fort of Attock) with other PoWs (L/NK Jagdish Raj figures in the list of 54 PoWs)

General Chuck Yeager of USA, who was on deputation with the Pakistan Air Force for training Pakistani pilots, has written a book of his role during the Indo-Pak war and has written in his book that he had interviewed about 20 Indian pilots in the Pakistani jails.

. Shri Rooplal Saharia had been in various Pakistani jails for 26 years from 1974 to 2000. He says that there were many Indian prisoners of war languishing in various Pakistani jails.

A book published in 1980 from Lahore titled Bhutto—Trial and Execution written by Victoria Schofield, a senior BBC London reporter, covering the period of 1978 when Mr. Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was detained in Kot Lakhpat jail, Lahore (page No. 59) reads: “(Bhutto’s) cell separated from a barrack area by a 10 foot high wall, did not prevent him from hearing horrific shrieks and screams at midnight from the other side of the wall. One of Bhutto’s lawyers made enquiries amongst the jail staff and ascertained that they were in fact Indian prisoners of war who had been rendered delinquent and mental during the course of the 1971 war.” “Fifty odd lunatics were lodged in the ward next to mine. Their screams and shrieks in the dead of night are something I will not forgot,” wrote former Pakistan Prime Minister, Zulfiquar Ali Bhutto, referring to Indian prisoners of war of 1965 and 1971 who were kept in a cell next to his in Kot Lakhpat prison.

Shri Mohanlal Bhaskar of Firozpur, who was in Pakistan jails between 1968 and 1974 and was repatriated on 9.12.1974, wrote a book (I was a spy of India in Pakistan) in which he stated that in fort of Attock, a Pakistani Major Ayaz Ahmed Sipra of Second Punjab Regiment of Pakistan, who was imprisoned for conspiring against Bhutto, spoke to an Indian PoW Mr. Gill of the Indian Air Force and one Captain Singh of the Indian Army and mentioned that there were around 40 PoWs of the 1965 and 1971 wars who are languishing in Kot Lakhpat jail and had no chances of release in future.

I agree- this seems very vague and highly unlikely.

We dont use this anywhere. We cite announcement`s made by Pakistan at the time of capture, and Ashok SUri`s letter. There are reports of Prisoners, civilians, who have come back and say they have seen this one or that one but i feel the fact they were announced as captured alive by Pakistan means that Pakistan now has to inform us what happened to them?

Benazir Bhutto spoke of 40 Indian army personnel in kails in Pakistan and Asma jehangir had mentioned in 1999 that she had heard of 53 Indian army personnel in pakistan prisons.

#68 by waraich

I am afraid ms. Wariach the story about Tombay is pack of lies and nothing else.

Gen. Tikka Khan was never governor of Punjab. Not in 1989 or ever before that. He was a Minister of Defense in 1975-77.

Second, Lyallpur was named Faisalabld in the 70s and since then it is Faisalabd and was not called Lyallpur in 1989.

“He was wearing white Bengali kurta and pyjamas.”

Nobody wears Bengali kurta and pajama in Pakistan and some prisoners are issued shalwar kameez.

I am sorry this type of lies wont help your cause much.

Omar, I`m too much of an idiot to understand why writing that post made me an idiot, so please explain further, how and why. Thanks. Besides, thought you didn`t need or want applause?

nb said: The sad thing is that people like Omar can`t even see the human side. The writer is a woman, who when I called to tell her about the London bombings and that the ABC was saying ``Islamic terrorists`` were involved, said, ``Muslims are the most marginalised and persecuted people in the world now, maybe some of them can`t see an option``. So we are not talking about Islam-bashers or Pakistan-bashers here. Some of my fellow Indians may be unimpressed, as I initially was,(London, that great city, beloved of all Bengalis,how dare anyone attack London?Delhi?now there`s another matter) but no one can miss this generosity of spirit.


nb -- sorry to say but with this post you have proved yourself an idiot -- if i didnt `even see the human side` i wonder how i was moved to writing the editorial -- which by the way was a follow up of simi warraich`s letter, which was partly published because i pushed for it --
i should add that in our editorial meeting today i made a strong case that the editorial should also the raise of POWs, something that the indian and pakistani govts did not touch upon in their talks this week


i think it`s good to speak when one knows of the facts , dont you think nb jee ?