Date: 5/30/2005
'Indian brigadier sold 1965 war plans' Islamabad, May 30: Operational plans drawn up by the Indian Army as war loomed on the sub-continent in 1965 were allegedly sold by an Indian brigadier for Rs.20,000, but then Pakistani president Ayub Khan failed to capitalise on this, the late dictator's son claims. The brigadier, according to Gohar Ayub Khan, "needed the money for his wife who wanted to buy equipment for fulfilling her hobby of canning fruits and vegetables," The News reported Monday. Gohar, during an interview to the newspaper, refused to name the officer, but said there would be adequate indication of this in his autobiography, which is expected to hit the stands in December. The officer, who was still alive, had retired after serving at a "very top position", said Gohar, 68, who is known to be a hawk and generally opposed to normalising relations with India. He has served as the speaker of the National Assembly and as the country's foreign minister. Detailing the manner in which the plans were acquired, Gohar claimed that it was agreed between Pakistani agents and the Indian Army officer that payment would be made in London. The officer would deliver the war plan in New Delhi after getting confirmation the money had been paid. The Pakistani military attache in London, Brigadier Said Ghaus, made the payment, Gohar said. However, when the plan was studied at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, everyone from Ayub Khan down were surprised at its comprehensiveness and some even thought it an Indian plant. The plan was rechecked from other intelligence sources in New Delhi and it turned out to be the actual plan, Gohar said. "Ayub Khan then issued instructions that in future, the Pakistan Army should not keep its own plans with so much details as the Indians had done so that these plans were not leaked to the enemy," The News quoted Gohar as saying. Ayub Khan deployed Pakistani forces on those fronts where the Indians planned to attack and also sent some forces to those areas that Indian Army did not plan to attack. Thus, when the war began, Indian commanders were surprised at the resistance they encountered. At one stage, according to Gohar, Indian troops began pulling back across the Beas and the Pakistani forces were ordered to engage in hot pursuit. However, the rashness of a Pakistani tank driver resulted in a crucial bridge over the river collapsing and the advance was halted. The bridge could not be repaired for three days, and during this period, the Indians breach a number of canals to flood the area and permanently stop the Pakistan Army's forward movement. "This greatly disappointed Ayub Khan as despite the availability of the secret (Indian) plan of, Pakistan failed to utilise its advantages," Gohar said. .....................================= COULD WE NOT READ IN THIRTY YEARS' TIME, "INDIAN SUPREME COMMANDER ABDUL KALAM, PASSED NUCLEAR TOP SECRETS TO PAKISTAN."? ........................000000000
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