Pakistan Lost Terribly in the 1965 War: Pak Historian

Historian Dr Akbar Zaidi has said Pakistan ‘lost terribly in the 1965 war’, 2 days ahead of Defence Day celebrations.

Pakistan army’s soldiers participate in a ceremony to mark Pakistani Defence Day, in Islamabad (Photo: AP)

Pakistan “lost terribly in the 1965 war” with India, a Pakistani historian and political economist Dr S Akbar Zaidi has admitted.

Dr. Zaidi dispelled ‘the victory myth’, saying that there can not be a bigger lie as Pakistan had lost the war terribly.

With the celebration of the victory in the 1965 war round the corner, there can be no bigger lie than Pakistan won the war. We lost terribly in the 1965 war.
— Dr S Akbar Zaidi, Pakistani historian

Dr Zaidi also remarked that the general public in Pakistan is not aware of the fact because history is taught in Pakistan from an ideological perspective.

History in Pakistan is taught from an ideological viewpoint. Pakistan needs to be seen as a geographical entity... Students are not taught the history of the people of Pakistan rather it is focused on the making of Pakistan.
— Dr S Akbar Zaidi, Pakistani historian

Screengrab of Dr S Abkar Zaidi. (Source: YouTube)

A professor of history at the Institute of Business Administration in Karachi, Dr Zaidi was speaking at an event organised by the Faculty of Social Sciences at the Karachi University. He also asked people to read the book Crossed Swords, written by political and strategic analyst Shuja Nawaz, which according to him exposes the reality of the war.

Dr Zaidi’s remarks came just two days before Defence Day, an occasion where Pakistan marks the 50th anniversary of the 1965 war.

Pakistani Air Force personnel march during a ceremony to mark Pakistan Defense Day at the Mausoleum of Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Islamabad. (Photo: AP)