At the peak of his power, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto promoted Zia above the heads of others and appointed him as the Pakistan Army Chief. It was a fatal mistake, because the so far servile Zia soon toppled his mentor. He went on to ensure Bhutto was executed and continued to rule for the next 11 years as the unchallenged dictator of Pakistan.

Sources -

The Struggle for Pakistan - Ayesha Jalal

Working with Zia - General Khalid Mahmud Arif

Zulfi Bhutto of Pakistan- His Life & Times - Stanley Wolpert

A History of the Pakistan Army - Brian Cloughley

Eating Grass - The Making of the Pakistani Bomb - Feroz Hassan Khan

Memories & Reflections Of A Pakistani Diplomat - Ḵẖān, Sult̤ān Muhammad

#HistoryPodcast #IndiaPakistan #ZiaUlHaq #Bhutto #PakistanArmy #Geopolitics #SouthAsia

The 70s decade saw a great reversal in the internal politics of India and Pakistan. India, thus far a stable democracy, slid into autocracy under Mrs Indira Gandhi during the emergency. Pakistan, meanwhile, was flirting with fledgling democracy, with its first real constitution being promulgated in 1973.

But it was not long before status quo ante prevailed. Listen to the strange tale of the temporarily exchanged identities of the subcontinental rivals.

Sources -

People, Passions and Politics - Mohammed Younis

Military, State and Society in Pakistan - Hasan Askari Rizvi

War, Coups and Terror - Pakistan's Army - Brian Cloughley

The United States and Pakistan, 1947-2000 - Dennis Kux

Zulfi Bhutto of Pakistan- His Life & Times -- Stanley Wolpert

Generals in Politics in Pakistan - Asghar Khan

Bhutto - Salman Taseer

#HistoryPodcast #IndiaPakistan #Bhutto #IndiraGandhi #Emergency #1975 #GenZiaUlHaq #Democracy #Dictatorship

Pakistani Prisoners of War were more than bargaining counters between the two countries. They were soldiers, once proud but now coping with humiliation of laying down their arms and indignity of captivity. This episode takes a closer look at their lives in captivity, several escape attempts, and the psychological trauma on return. Back in their own country they faced suspicion and disdain. The psychological trauma of 1971 and the resolve of the prisoners to redeem themselves changed Pakistani outlook and strategy towards India.

Please share your comments and feedback at rohit@rohitagarwal.in

Sources -

The origins of war in South Asia- Indo-Pakistani conflicts - Sumit Ganguly

South Asian Crisis- India, Pakistan, And Bangla Desh - A Jackson

Through the 1971 Crisis- An Eyewitness Account by a Soldier - Hakeem Arshad Qureshi

Military, State and Society in Pakistan - Hasan Askari Rizvi

War, Coups and Terror - Pakistan's Army - Brian Cloughley

#IndianHistory #HistoryPodcast #IndiaPakistanWar #OperationSindoor #prisonersofwar #PakistanArmy #Bhutto