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| Afghanistan/South Asia |
| Treason, thy name is canned fruits and vegetables |
| 2005-05-31 |
| India said Tuesday it would investigate reports that an army brigadier sold the country's battle plan before the 1965 war with Pakistan to fund his wife's hobby of canning fruits and vegetables. Gohar Ayub Khan, son of former Pakistan President Ayub Khan, said in an interview to the Pakistani newspaper, The News, Monday that Pakistani agents had bought the Indian military plan for 20,000 rupees ($458) from the officer, who needed money to buy equipment for his wife to fulfil her hobby. The News story was splashed across front pages in the Indian media Tuesday and was a major story on TV news channels. Gohar, a former Pakistan foreign minister whose autobiography will be released in coming weeks, told the Pakistani newspaper that the Indian brigadier was still alive and served in a very senior position before retiring. The Indian defense ministry said though it doubted Gohar's claims it would investigate. "The incident took place 30 to 35 years ago... It needs to be looked into and will be investigated," Indian Defense Minister Pranab Mukherjee told reporters while inaugurating a new naval base on India's western coast. But he said it was highly unlikely that an officer of the rank of brigadier would have the military's complete battle plan. India and Pakistan fought their second war with fierce air and tank battles in September 1965 with neither side able to claim a clear-cut victory when a U.N.-sponsored cease-fire came into effect after three weeks of fighting. India and Pakistan have fought three wars since both gained independence from Britain in 1947, of which two, including the 1965 conflict, were over the disputed territory of Kashmir. A war in 1971 led to the creation of Bangladesh, formerly East Pakistan. Both nations are now involved a cautious peace process. |
| Posted by:Anonymoose |
| #7 This is raising hackles in Delhi 40 years on, Gohar Ayub spins a yarn Pakistan's first military usurper and self-proclaimed Field Marshal Ayub Khan, regularly boasted that one Pakistani soldier was more than a match for ten of his Indian counterparts. This myth was shattered when Pakistan chose to initiate conflict with India in 1965. Gohar Ayub Khan evidently has three objectives in mind. Firstly, to discredit the Indian Army whose officers don't spend their careers making money selling Cantonment lands, or peddling heroin. Secondly, to restore the "image" of his father who is reviled in Pakistan today as a dictator who presided over the disastrous military adventure in 1965. Finally, sensationalism gets more money for writers. --snip-- By claiming that his father knew in advance of India's military plans, Gohar Ayub only confirms that his father was an incompetent military leader, who could not win a battle even after being forewarned of enemy intentions. Having participated in the 1965 conflict and entered Pakistan in the Sialkot Sector, I can personally assert that the Pakistan Army had no clue of where our only Armoured Division was going to strike. This would hardly have happened if, as Gohar, claims his father was fully aware of our plans. --snip-- The timing of Gohar's allegations is interesting. His "revelations" come when senior officers of the Pakistan Army are being accused of perpetrating huge frauds on sale of cantonment lands in Lahore and elsewhere and forcibly occupying farmlands in Okara, evicting tenant farmers. |
| Posted by: john 2005-05-31 17:53 |
| #6 NEW DELHI: The service records of "six retired officers", who were brigadiers during the 1965 war and later went on to become major-generals and lt-generals, are now being minutely examined in the Army HQ in an internal inquiry. "Four of them are infantry officers, while one is from the armoured corps and the last from a support arm," said sources. This comes after Pakistani politician Gohar Ayub Khan's claim that an Indian Brigadier sold the detailed Indian war plans to Pakistan just before the 1965 war for Rs 20,000. The names of the six officers are being withheld by this newspaper since the claim of Gohar Khan, whose father Field Marshal Ayub Khan headed the military regime in Pakistan during the 1965 war, is believed to be "fairly exaggerated and far-fetched". The timing of the "revelations" by Gohar Khan, known for hawkish views against India, is also "suspect", especially since it comes at a time when the two countries are engaged in the composite dialogue process at the highest levels. The possibility that Gohar Khan's claim could be an "advertising stunt" to boost the sales of his autobiography, that will come out in December, has also not been ruled out. |
| Posted by: john 2005-05-31 17:05 |
| #5 Well, it was a long time ago, things were different then. The home canning force was strong in the subcontinent, many fine men were lost fighting the Ball Jar revolution. It's hard to remember that now, it was a long time ago, things were different then. /KB Hear 'ya Phil. :) |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-05-31 14:39 |
| #4 What I mean, shipman, is this: do you really believe this guy about this? I don't. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-05-31 13:41 |
| #3 Well it is a wholesome and frugal hobby. |
| Posted by: Shipman 2005-05-31 13:25 |
| #2 All I can say is... yeah, right. |
| Posted by: Phil Fraering 2005-05-31 13:13 |
| #1 Now over here, this guy would have no problem. "Oh, my poor wife! She's obsesseive compulsive!" they'd go on Oprah, and Dr. Phil and write their book about her struggle with this dread disease and probably be set for life as professional victims. Unfortunately, they're not over here. So they'll probably shoot him. |
| Posted by: tu3031 2005-05-31 12:50 |