This needs a full investigation…UPDATED
From the Times of India today, “Ayub Khan’s son says Manekshaw sold war plans“
Excerpts:
“…Gohar Ayub Khan, former Pakistan Foreign Minister, told Karan Thapar on India Tonight programme on CNBCTV18 that his father had told him that an Indian Brigadier, who was Director of Military Operations, (DM0) in 1950s, had sold battle plans to his country in the 1950s.
Under questioning, Gohar Ayub refused to name the Brigadier but said he was from the first batch of the Indian Military Academy, commissioned in the 4th Battalion of the 12 Frontier Force, wounded in the Burma campaign in 1942 for which he was awarded the Military Cross, and rose to the highest possible rank in the Indian army.
Thapar told Gohar Ayub that his description fitted former Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, currently lying ill in the military hospital in Coonoor.
The former Pakistani minister then said: “I would not name him, the individual. You possibly can fit the cap from what you have heard (from me).”
This is indeed a bombshell and I feel that the matter needs a full investigation. Gohar Ayub Khan is not just any man on the street but son of General Ayub Khan and Pakistan’s ex-Foreign Minister.
If the remarks are not true, the Defense Ministry, the Government and the Indian media must condemn Gohar Ayub in no uncertain terms…if they are true (even partially so) …I shudder to think.
I will be watching the news closely for the next few days…if any of you, have any additional information, links etc, please comemnt here or email me at jai DOT dharma AT gmail.com
*** UPDATE ***
Some reactions to the story: The Government and retired Chiefs of Staff have called it a ridiculous suggestion: http://www.timesnow.tv/India_backs_Manekshaw/articleshow/2016089.cms
B Raman has also commented on this suggesting that this may be part of psyops: http://in.rediff.com/news/2007/may/08raman.htm
Another reaction: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Revenge_for_Manekshaws_role_in_71_war/articleshow/2015949.cms
An alternative view-point: Karan Thapar’s Hatchet Job on Sam Bahadur
An excerpt from “India’s China war” by Neville Maxwell
http://www.centurychina.com/plaboard/uploads/1962war.htm
General Thapar’s warning was thus rejected in the Defense Ministry and the order for the Army was confirmed to evict the Chinese. General Thapar requested the order be put in writing, which came from a junior official who consulted through telephone call to the Defense Minister Menon in New York without consulting the Cabinet Defense Committee. The order overruled General Thapar’s professional judgment that his force was incapable of handling the Chinese reaction to the eviction operation. Three years before, Thapar’s predecessor Thimayya submitted resignation after having had a clash with Menon, and was humiliated and humbled under the name of “civil supremacy.” This marked a point of no return in the Indian Army, and Thapar failed to offer his resignation. Brigadier Dalvi, much lower in rank, finally submitted resignation in protest and wrote later: “Resignation is the last constitutional resort of a service chief in a democratic set up … this is the only safeguard against incompetent, unscrupulous or ambitious politicians.”
Very interesting…thanks for the link, Sridhar.