A largely attended book launch of Dr Junaid Ahmad’s latest book ‘1971 ETHNIC CLEANSING OF BIHARIS IN EAST PAKISTAN’ took place on September 26, 2024 at the Institute of Regional Studies, Islamabad. The session was chaired by Dr Syed Riffat Hussain. The book was reviewed by 1) Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan, Director General, NUST Institute of Policy Studies; 2) Prof. Jawaid Mohsin Malik, a very senior educationists and 3) Dr Azima Khatoon, Assistant Professor, Pakistan Studies & IR at International Islamic University Islamabad. Dr Ashfaque & Dr Azima having spent their earlier years in East Pakistan and shifting to Karachi after fall of Dhaka in 1971. Dr Junaid Ahmad, the author answered the questions from the audience in the end. In response to a question Dr Junaid informed that govt. of Haseena Wajid had established a commission of international experts and had planned to organize a seminar in September in Geneva at the UN Human Rights Commission re: alleged killing of 3 million Bengalis by the Pak Army. Dr Junaid’s book is pre-creative move for the above seminar and report of the BD appointed commission. The book for the first time reveals the ethnic cleansing of Biharis and Non-Bengalis in East Pakistan during March 1971 to February 1972 at the hands of Awami Leaguers, Indian trained and funded Mukti Bahini terrorists and the Indian soldiers initially as saboteurs, infiltrators and later as occupying force. An estimated 660,000 Biharis and Non-Bengalis were killed in these twelve months. The book details India’s role and involvement in the breakup of Pakistan in 1971 which has been openly accepted by many Indian leaders and also acknowledged by Bangladesh officials. They have also accepted that India supported, trained and funded the Awami League miscreants and Mukti Bahini terrorists. Testimonies of hundreds of Bihari and Non-Bengalis’ witnesses to the carnage in all urban and rural areas of East Pakistan have been presented. In addition, newspaper reports from six major dailies from May 1971 to February 1972 have been summarized and presented providing a solid base for all assertions. The book contains undeniable evidence of the involvement of Indian soldiers in massacre and rape of Bihari and Non-Bengali in East Pakistan.
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