Pak atrocities in 1971 exceeded Nazi barbarity, says VK Singh

New Delhi: Atrocities committed by the Pakistani Army in erstwhile East Pakistan were similar to what the Nazis did and that is what led to Pakistan’s defeat in the 13-day long 1971 Bangladesh liberation war, Union minister V.K. Singh said on Friday.

“The type of atrocities which went on in Bangladesh (before liberation) is something which probably the world has forgotten. I do not think the people of Bangladesh of that period have forgotten, but the coming generations, probably have found it easier to put it somewhere in the corner and forget,” the minister of state for external affairs said, adding that the atrocities defy or belittle what the Nazis did during their period.

“We also need to remember that there was an Army which went on a rampage, did things which were against humanity and that was a reason for its downfall. If 93,000 people surrendered, it was because they had lost the will to stand up.”

Mr Singh was speaking during a seminar on “1971 India-Pakistan War and the Liberation of Bangladesh” organised by India Foundation at Nehru Memorial Museum and Library. “There was a race improvement camp (in Bangladesh). I do not think we have heard of such a thing after the Nazi period but it was there. How can we forget such atrocities. How can we forget that a so-called professional Army could turn around in a manner which nobody does in the world,” the former Army chief asked.

Mr Singh said the 1971 war, among other things also proved the falsity of the two-nation theory.

“This was a war which saw political and military leaderships rise to the occasion to ensure that the victory was achieved in the shortest possible time,” he said.