KEY POINTS
- December marks two tragic events in Pakistan’s history.
- Dhaka fell on 16 December 1971, creating Bangladesh.
- Conflict arose from political, cultural, and economic East-West disparities.
- Awami League’s election victory triggered East Pakistan’s autonomy struggle.
- Indian forces supported Mukti Bahini during the 1971 war.
- Pakistani forces surrendered on 16 December 1971 in Dhaka.
- Millions fled violence; thousands of families were torn apart.
- APS attack occurred on 16 December 2014 in Peshawar.
- Seven gunmen killed 149 people, including 132 children.
- Attack highlighted Pakistan’s vulnerability to terrorism and extremism.
- December 16 remembered as a day of mourning and reflection.
December is a month of profound significance for Pakistan, as two tragic events unfolded during this period, casting a long shadow over the nation’s history.
The fall of Dhaka in 1971, marking the creation of Bangladesh as an independent nation, is a day remembered for the heartbreak and human cost of war.
The attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar on December 16, 2014, stands as a stark reminder of the horrors of terrorism and its devastating impact on innocent lives.
Separated by decades yet bound by date, both tragedies serve as painful reminders that history can repeat itself in cruel ways.
War and its toll
The events that led to the fall of Dhaka on December 16, 1971, were the culmination of a brutal war of independence for East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) against West Pakistan.
The roots of the conflict lay in deep-seated political, cultural, and economic disparities between East and West Pakistan.
The tipping point came in March 1971, when the Awami League won a sweeping victory in Pakistan’s general elections.
However, when the government in West Pakistan refused to recognise the election results, the people of East Pakistan began their struggle for autonomy that soon spiralled into an armed conflict.
The ensuing war, with India throwing its weight behind the insurgency, reached its climax in December 1971.
Indian forces launched a coordinated attack on the Pakistani military, alongside the Mukti Bahini. After days of heavy fighting, the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan were overwhelmed.
On 16 December 1971, the Pakistani commander in East Pakistan formally surrendered, signalling the fall of Dhaka and the creation of the state of Bangladesh.
The fall of Dhaka marked a turning point in South Asian history. It not only led to the birth of Bangladesh but also saw the tragic loss of life and immense human suffering, as millions of refugees fled the violence, and thousands of families were torn apart.
The war left a deep scar in the collective memory of the people of Bangladesh and Pakistan, a wound that time has failed to heal, as it involved both immense human tragedy and geopolitical shifts in the region.
Another dark chapter
Decades after the fall of Dhaka, on December 16, 2014, another event unfolded on the same date that would forever be etched in the hearts of the Pakistani people — the horrific terrorist attack on the Army Public School (APS) in Peshawar.
This attack was carried out by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which remains one of the darkest chapters in the country’s recent history.
It was one of the deadliest and most brutal assaults on innocent children, sending shocking waves through the nation like a bolt from the blue.
On that horrific day, seven terrorists stormed the school in the cantonment area of Peshawar, targeting children and teachers in a calculated and barbaric manner. The attackers opened fire indiscriminately, turning the place of learning into a scene of carnage.
The Pakistani military launched an operation to rescue the hostages, but by the time the attackers had killed 149 people, including 132 children, most of them between the ages of 12 and 16, and 17 staff members.
The massacre left parents shattered and a nation struggling to come to terms with the unthinkable.
The APS attack was a horrific reminder of the relentless brutality of terrorism. It shocked the world and sparked outrage both within Pakistan and internationally.
The attack was part of the TTP’s ongoing campaign to destabilise the country by targeting civilians to instil fear and shake the system to its core. The impact of the APS attack on Pakistan was immense.
Unity through tragedy
It united the nation in grief and anger, bringing people from all walks of life onto the same page, and led to a renewed commitment to combating terrorism.
The incident also brought attention to the vulnerability of children in conflict zones and underscored the urgent need for better protection of educational institutions worldwide.
For Pakistan, the APS attack remains a day of mourning and remembrance, a grim milestone that still sends chills down the spine, when the nation was forced to confront the harsh reality of extremism.
December is now remembered as a month marked by profound loss, one that speaks to the depths of human suffering caused by both war and terrorism.
The fall of Dhaka was a watershed moment that reshaped South Asia, while the APS attack left a permanent scar on the collective memory of Pakistan.
Both events, though separated by more than four decades, reflect the immense toll that violence and extremism have on societies, families, and futures.
As the world remembers December 16, it is not only a day to mourn the tragic losses but also a moment to pause, take stock, and renew the resolve for peace, unity, and the protection of innocent lives.
