October 19, 2001

Interview: Maj. General Tajjamul Hussain Malik

Dear Editor:

Interview of Maj. General Tajjamul Hussain in September issue was an interesting reading. The respected general has served his country extremely well and has earned respect from his countrymen and foes.  There is lot of confusion in some of his ideas and several points need to be clarified.  After thoroughly denouncing Ayub and Zia for their Martial Laws, the author admits that in March 1980, he planned a coup, as he thought that ‘it was an opportune moment to organize a coup’.  The aim according to him was ‘Islamic revolution’.  Then later, he claims that he is ‘committed for an Islamic revolution through constitutional process by moulding public opinion’, which seems contradictory.  In addition, when in 1976, after he was superseded, while responding to a query from General Akhtar (who was also superseded), he told him to ‘carry out a coup’.  He also admits himself that he had asked Col. Zuberi about communication system and had suggested about a coup which was his real intention but later asked him to forget about it as he got concerned about leak of information. (The story of my struggle by Tajjamul Hussain, p. 207) The author doesn’t mention whether in 1976 also he wanted to bring an ‘Islamic Revolution’.  He then informs the readers that religious parties are ‘divided for selfish reasons’, therefore, they can’t succeed and then harp on a dream of a Taliban type regime in Pakistan ‘through force of arms’.  This thought process is not unusual among many Pakistanis who fail to recognize the contradictions in their own thoughts.  They seem comfortable living with contradictions rather than trying to look deeper for the root causes of problems and possible solutions. Pakistan is a poor country with already very top-heavy defence establishment.  If every angry superceded senior officer starts thinking that way then God be with the country.  In any organization, only a limited number can be promoted and surely every promoted one considers him as the best while the one superseded cries foul play.  As strange as it may be, but it is true that in Pakistan every senior officer who had not reached the top somehow feels that he has been cheated.  Probably that is why the general saw himself not being promoted as equivalent to ‘defeat’.  One may agree with him that every promoted senior officer was not the best, the respected General’s frequent references to vague ACR reports, points and grades and comparisons with others does not suit the worthy general as he has already distinguished himself in the real test of war.  I think everyone would agree with him that promotion is not synonymous with qualification for the job.

The respected general admitted that General Niazi had a brave service record but then uses vague terms as it was due to ‘mundane gains’ and as mercenary and lacking ‘moral and spiritual convictions’ for war.  1971 is a painful and sad last chapter in the 24 year history of acts of omission and commission of united Pakistan.  There is no ‘moral’ or ‘spiritual’ conviction in killing one’s own compatriots.  Civil wars are brutal, painful and shameful.  There is no ‘glory’ or ‘honour’ in fighting these wars, only tears and lessons for future generations if they want to learn.  The readers would have greatly appreciated and young officers learned a lot if he had professionally criticized Niazi’s battle plans and offered his own ideas.  He claims that with the available resources, Pakistan’s eastern garrison would have fought six more months but did not answer the million dollar question of then what? 

Each individual is given a special gift and can contribute to the society in his own capacity.  A brave soldier is not synonymous with a good ruler as the requirements for that job are different.  If a brilliant architecture gets the wrong idea in his head that he can be a good surgeon and start operating, one can only expect disasters.  I have great respect for the general and every brave soldier but it is critical that one frankly discuss various issues to keep the right perspective.

Sincerely,

Hamid Hussain

Port Jefferson, New York

 (Note:  I would greatly appreciate if you can forward this to Maj. General (r) Tajjamul Hussain with kind regards and great respect.  If that is not possible then forwarding his address to me would be appreciated, if possible.) 

From: “zskhan” <zskhan@apollo.com.pk>
To: <defjrnl@pathfinder.com.pk>
Subject: Remembering our warriors
Date: Tuesday, November 13, 2001 6:27 PM

Sir,

After reading the interview with Major-General Tajammal Hussain, I was concerned at his comments with regard to the early Sandhurst and RIMC trained general officers of the Pakistan Army. He dismisses them as “more British than the British themselves.” He exempts General Sher Ali Pataudi from this category, but is still contemptuous of his upbringing.

My concern is that this trend of downrating the professional abilities of an officer simply because of a difference in social outlook needs to be controlled. This trend is clearly visible in “THE PAKISTAN ARMY 1947-49” by (late) Major-General Shaukat Riza. Even the foreward to this book, written by the then COAS General Aslam Beg is vague and uses flowery language to paper over the cracks in his logic. Where are the facts to support General Beg’s romantic assertions of sovereignty? Is he thinking of Saddam Hussain and “strategic defiance”?

According to the author, the history of the Pakistan Army starts from the disintegration of the Moghul Empire. However, when it comes to the Kashmir Operations of 1947-48, and the role played by our officers with the Azad Forces, the author’s focus becomes very selective. The martyrdom of Captain Sarwar Shaheed (NH) only rates a mere three lines, and the three HJ’s (Brig Aslam, Hayaud Din and Pataudi) are not mentioned anywhere at all. In fact derogatory remarks are written about Brig Hayaud Din and the failure of the Azad attack on Poonch. This reads in stark contrast to what General Gracey and Major-General Loftus Tottenham have written about the war record of Major-General Hayaud Din.

Furthermore the book contains a solitary group picture on page 296 of the eleven or so officers who received gallantry awards for their role in the Kashmir operations,  without even bothering to list their names let alone a description of their bravery.

Recently in his autobiography Lt Gen Jahandad Khan claims that Lt Gen Attiqur Rehman was “apt to be snobbish.” What does that mean? Is this how our senior officers were seen by their subordinates, as pro-British elitist snobs? It would be pertinent to look only at whether they were professionally capable officers and did they have what it takes to be a good general officer.

Civilian authors such as the late Hasan Zaheer have written about the Rawalpindi Conspiracy case, and paint a different picture of our general officers, and the extent of “Britishness” pervading the psyche of the upper echelons of the Pakistan Army.

Perhaps a profile or interview with Major-General Pataudi can shed some light on the Kashmir operations and the formative years of the Pakistan Army. Also perhaps he can respond to the comments by his former Secretary Roedad Khan on his role in the Yahya Khan government.

Yours sincerely,

Zain Sadullah Khan.

From: “Mark Higton” <MHigton@millennium-org.com>
To: <defjrnl@pathfinder.com.pk>
Subject: Letter to the Editor
Date: Thursday, October 11, 2001 5:41 PM

Dear Sir,

I am most impressed by your magazine, having come across it purely by chance whilst trying to research the pre-‘47 origins of Pakistan’s paramilitary and military forces. I was most struck by your Interview and Serialisation sections. In particular, I especially enjoyed Chapter V of Maj. Raja Muhammad Sarwar Dhuddy’s proposed book. How can I search your website to read the rest?

As stated earlier, I am currently trying to research the pre-‘47 origins of Pakistan’s army, and in particular the paramilitary wing, which is greatly miss understood. Could you please ask your readers to contact me if they can help, or if they can put me into contact with any Regimental Archives.

Again, may I congratulate you on your magazine, and enquire whether it is possible to take out an overseas subscription, and to obtain back copies?

Yours Faithfully,

Mark Higton

The New Millennium Group
Queens House,
No. 1 Leicester Place
Leicester Square,
London, WC2H 7BP
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7534 3334
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7534 3312
Cel: +44 (0) 77 1858 7227

From: <AamirSalaria@aol.com>
To: <undisclosed-recipients:;>
Subject: Letter to the Editor.
Date: Monday, November 05, 2001 7:12 PM

Dear Sir:

This has reference to a recently published article in the section “Religion” by Patricia Rice of St.Louis Post-Dispatch, a leading daily of St. Louis, Missouri, USA on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2001 entitled “Muslim defines a woman’s role: leading area mosques”

Indeed it is a well researched writing by Ms. Rice, for which I would like to congratulate her from my side as well as on behalf of the whole Muslim community of the Greater St. Louis area. The main theme of the article revolves around the Chairwomen of Islamic Foundation of St. Louis, Dr. Ghazala Hayat, a neurologist by profession, who immigrated to USA in early eighties from Islamic Republic of Pakistan.

It might be pointed out that the Islamic Foundation of St. Louis, is the main governing body of the two Missouri mosques — Daar-us-Salam in Ballwin area of the West County of St. Louis and the West Pine mosque in the eastern part of the city. The Foundation also claims to be the representative of about 50,000 Muslims living in this Midwestern City of USA, also known as the “Gateway to the West” but has only got around 2500 on its membership roaster.

Most of the things that she has said in the article are quite true and right. However, I beg to differ with one controversial comment made by Dr. Ghazala Hayat when she said, “Nothing in the Quran says a woman must cover her head“ which is absolutely wrong, un-Islamic and misleading. Moreover, these remarks are an insult to thousands of Muslim girls and women, throughout the world, including North America, who cover their heads in line with the true doctrine of their religion.

In this context, I can quote many sayings of God Almighty in the Holy Quran as well as the sayings of the Holy Prophet Mohammad, May Peace Be Upon Him, in which, it is very clearly mentioned that the Muslim women must atleast cover their heads while coming out of their homes and places of work.

Being a Muslim by birth and brought up, I do understand very well, the dilemma of living and working in North America of some of the womenfolks in general and Muslim women in particular. As experienced by me many times in the past, some of these Muslim women try to distort and twist the true Islamic doctrine to suit their social, family, professional and financial obligations, needs and interests.  That is exactly what Dr. Hayat has done in this case. Maybe the worthy doctor would deny the controversial statement attributed to her but the damage has already been done. It would be very difficult to nullify its implications and repercussions.

It is hightime that the so-called Muslim leaders of our area should behave and act more responsibly in public and private. Any irresponsible statements from them could send a wrong signal, which might not help the diversity and true image of Islam that gives equal rights to everybody, irrespective of sex, colour, creed, class, national origin, conviction, profession, age and status. It is incumbent upon us, in particular, in the aftermath of the tragic WTC attacks of September 11  to present the true image and values of Islam in our community, which heralds a message of Peace, Tolerance, Compassion, Love and Affection for the whole humanity.

With Best Regards,

Engr. Aamir A. Salaria,

14, Vanessa Drive,
St. Louis, Missouri 63131.
PH: 314 - 469 - 7511
FAX: 314 - 317 - 8797 

From: <Nazirbhattipcc@aol.com>
To: <defjrnl@pathfinder.com.pk>
Subject: press release.
Date: Sunday, October 28, 2001 9:12 PM

Killing of Christians condemned.

New York. Oct. 28, 2001.

Nazir S Bhatti, President, Pakistan Christian Congress, condemned the killing of 20 Christian worshippers at St. Dominic Church Bahawalpur during Sunday services. He said that SSP is responsible for this killing as they have been the group behind all the blasphemy cases registered against Christians in Pakistan. The recent attack on Christian Sunday services in Bahawalpur is in connection of “Fatwa“ of killing two Christians on one death of Muslim in Afghanistan of any Muslim. Mr. Bhatti said that we have appealed to Government of Pakistan take notice of JUI and SSP leaders “Fatwas” and adopt necessary measures to security of life and property of Christians in Pakistan. He said the incident of Bahawalpur is an indication that Muslim radical groups plan to civil war in Pakistan and they have selected the upper Punjab division of Bahawalpur where they gunned down the ex-Federal Minister and elected Nazim in local body election few months back.

Mr. Bhatti said that killing of Christians is an indication that Muslim radical groups are threat to integrity and solidarity of Pakistan and planning to face the Armed Forces of Pakistan, the only institution remained to safeguard the country. He said that intentions to arrest the culprits responsible of the incident by President Pervez Musharraf is a very positive step but the failure of the administration to protect the Christian minority is very serious situation and law enforcement agencies failure is an act to condemn.

Mr. Nazir Bhatti expressed condolences to the families to the deceased Christians worshippers of Bahawalpur and stressed upon 20 million Christians of Pakistan to unite and struggle against expected terrorism by these Muslim groups. He stressed upon Christians to set up their own security system and safeguard their life and property by youth group’s night watch guard duties. He also appealed Christians to stay calm and to prevent such incidents in other cities of Pakistan because these Muslim groups want Christians violently and create law and order situation in country to attack more churches and properties in Pakistan. Mr. Bhatti appealed to moderate Muslim groups to protect their Christian  neighbours in this situation.

Nazir S Bhatti, President, PCC

www.pakistanchristiancongress.com
Editor, PCP
www.pakistanchristianpost.com