Ghulam Muhammad Safi, convener of the All Parties Hurriyat Conference  Azad Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter, said that the fall of Dhaka on December 16, 1971, was not a sudden event but the logical outcome of years of Indian conspiracies, organized political and military interference, and aggressive policies. Safi, in a statement in Islamabad, said India had orchestrated separatist elements in East Pakistan, trained and armed guerrilla groups like the Mukti Bahini, and targeted East Pakistan immediately after the creation of its secret agency RAW.

Historical evidence confirms that Indian forces, disguised as Mukti Bahini, crossed the border, conducted propaganda campaigns to mislead global opinion, and eventually launched a direct military assault in Bangladesh, resulting in Pakistan’s dismemberment. Safi emphasized that acknowledgments from current and former Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, reveal that the Indian state, its agencies, and BJP and Shiv Sena-affiliated elements actively collaborated with the Mukti Bahini against Pakistani forces.

He said India’s aggressive policies since 1971 aim to destabilize Pakistan, curb its regional influence, and maintain dominance in South Asia, whether through water manipulation, negative international propaganda, or interference via terrorist elements. The APHC leader said December 16 reminds Pakistanis that the enemy’s mindset remains unchanged, though Pakistan today is stronger, more aware, and united.

He paid tribute to the martyrs of the Army Public School Peshawar attack, saying their sacrifice teaches resilience and steadfastness. Safi expressed hope that Pakistan and Bangladesh are now engaging on a new page of understanding, respect, and trust, strengthening bilateral cooperation. He also recalled the historic beginnings of the Pakistan Movement in Dhaka in 1906, noting that Pakistani flags and slogans once again fill the city. 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)