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The Soviet Union had warned Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto at the height of the Cold War in the 1960s that it would take Pakistan's "eyes out" if it looked at India in an inimical manner.
The then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev delivered the warning to Bhutto when the Pakistani leader led his country's delegation to the United Nations, according to a new book based on the diaries of former military ruler Ayub Khan.
"Khrushchev, of course, abused Bhutto and said should Pakistan look towards India or Afghanistan, the Soviets would take our eyes out," said a noting made by Ayub Khan on May 23, 1967 with reference to a dinner he had with Said Hussain, who served as Pakistan's permanent represenative to the UN.
"He (Bhutto) told Khrushchev not to get angry: Pakistan was ready to quit the pacts (South East Aisa Treaty Organisation and Central Treaty Organisation)," said an excerpt of the book published in The News today.
The book, to be launched by Ayub Khan's son Gohar Ayub on May 4, also claims Bhutto volunteered to "spy" on all UN delegations for the US when he visited the world body as the head of the Pakistan's delegation.
"To Said Hassan's amazement, when seeing (then US Secretary of State Christian) Hutter, he (Bhutto) volunteered to spy for the USA on all UN delegations. When asked for an explanation, he said that because of our dependence on the USA, it was a good thing to oblige them," The News quoted Ayub Khan's noting in the diary.
Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party reacted strongly to the allegations, saying the charges -- like Gohar Ayub's previous claim that his father obtained India's war plans before the 1965 war -- lacked credibility.
"Said Hassan said he felt ashamed and came with a conclusion that the man was completely unreliable, double- faced and lacking in integrity and character," Ayub Khan wrote in his diary.
On returning from his studies at Oxford, Bhutto became a lecturer in Sindh Muslim Law College and later was part of different delegations that represented Pakistan at the UN from 1957. Bhutto served as Pakistan's prime minister during 1973-77.
Said Hassan was Pakistan's representative at the UN for about three years until around 1960. Later, he was appointed deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.
Hassan also made some damning remarks on Bhutto's conduct with the wife of former Indonesian President Sukarno.
"Similarly, the Japanese complained that Bhutto called them elusive animals in Algiers. From this and several other such instances in many capitals, it should be obvious how much harm he did to the reputation of Pakistan. There is no doubt about it that he is a man of despicable character and is a low down creature," the book said.
Bhutto did not find favour among Pakistan's military establishment. He was hanged in April 1979 by then military ruler Zia ul Haq on charges of murder.
He also came in for sharp criticism from President Pervez Musharaf in his autobiography "In the Line of Fire," in which he wrote that Bhutto was a fascist, using progressive rhetoric to promote regressive ends, the first of which was to "stay in power forever".
"I had come to the conclusion that Bhutto was the worst thing that yet happened to Pakistan. I still maintain that he did more damage to the country than anyone else, damage from which we have still not fully recovered."
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=467792
The then Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev delivered the warning to Bhutto when the Pakistani leader led his country's delegation to the United Nations, according to a new book based on the diaries of former military ruler Ayub Khan.
"Khrushchev, of course, abused Bhutto and said should Pakistan look towards India or Afghanistan, the Soviets would take our eyes out," said a noting made by Ayub Khan on May 23, 1967 with reference to a dinner he had with Said Hussain, who served as Pakistan's permanent represenative to the UN.
"He (Bhutto) told Khrushchev not to get angry: Pakistan was ready to quit the pacts (South East Aisa Treaty Organisation and Central Treaty Organisation)," said an excerpt of the book published in The News today.
The book, to be launched by Ayub Khan's son Gohar Ayub on May 4, also claims Bhutto volunteered to "spy" on all UN delegations for the US when he visited the world body as the head of the Pakistan's delegation.
"To Said Hassan's amazement, when seeing (then US Secretary of State Christian) Hutter, he (Bhutto) volunteered to spy for the USA on all UN delegations. When asked for an explanation, he said that because of our dependence on the USA, it was a good thing to oblige them," The News quoted Ayub Khan's noting in the diary.
Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party reacted strongly to the allegations, saying the charges -- like Gohar Ayub's previous claim that his father obtained India's war plans before the 1965 war -- lacked credibility.
"Said Hassan said he felt ashamed and came with a conclusion that the man was completely unreliable, double- faced and lacking in integrity and character," Ayub Khan wrote in his diary.
On returning from his studies at Oxford, Bhutto became a lecturer in Sindh Muslim Law College and later was part of different delegations that represented Pakistan at the UN from 1957. Bhutto served as Pakistan's prime minister during 1973-77.
Said Hassan was Pakistan's representative at the UN for about three years until around 1960. Later, he was appointed deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.
Hassan also made some damning remarks on Bhutto's conduct with the wife of former Indonesian President Sukarno.
"Similarly, the Japanese complained that Bhutto called them elusive animals in Algiers. From this and several other such instances in many capitals, it should be obvious how much harm he did to the reputation of Pakistan. There is no doubt about it that he is a man of despicable character and is a low down creature," the book said.
Bhutto did not find favour among Pakistan's military establishment. He was hanged in April 1979 by then military ruler Zia ul Haq on charges of murder.
He also came in for sharp criticism from President Pervez Musharaf in his autobiography "In the Line of Fire," in which he wrote that Bhutto was a fascist, using progressive rhetoric to promote regressive ends, the first of which was to "stay in power forever".
"I had come to the conclusion that Bhutto was the worst thing that yet happened to Pakistan. I still maintain that he did more damage to the country than anyone else, damage from which we have still not fully recovered."
http://www.outlookindia.com/pti_news.asp?id=467792