The book is a must-read for everyone who is eager to know the events that led to the war
LAHORE: Recently, Altaf Hassan Qureshi’s book in the Urdu language Jang-e-Sitamber ki Yaadein written on the 1965 war has gone on to become a top seller. In fact, Altaf is a name, an era on his own and his book is considered to be the best war account written by a veteran journalist who gathered the accounts by personally visiting the battlefields and interviewing war veterans at their homes. It is a simple yet effective narration of events in a dramatic way.
Though the war started with an unannounced attack by India, then president Ayub Khan made a formal announcement on Radio Pakistan with a forceful voice reciting the Kalma, which galvanised the nation to back the country’s armed forces against India. The book starts with its echo. It, however, is not limited to the 17 days of war but spans across the last 70 years of Pakistan’s political and military history in which the national defence has evolved in many ways.
The book is a must-read for everyone who is eager to know the events that led to the war. Altaf’s great work deserves to be recognised in a deserving manner. Moreover, this book should also be included in the syllabi of schools and colleges, so that the September War victory and at the same time Altaf’s contributions are remembered with honour and dignity.
Hassan Altaf
Published in The Express Tribune, April 27th, 2018.
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