Date:04/06/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/06/04/stories/2005060404551200.htm

National

"War plan was sold by ex-DMO"

Gohar Ayub Khan declines to name officer

NEW DELHI: The former Pakistan Foreign Minister, Gohar Ayub Khan, who alleged that an Indian Brigadier had sold India's 1965 war plan to his country for Rs. 20,000, has now claimed that the official was then a Director of Military Operations.

Mr. Khan, son of former Pakistan Commander-in-Chief and President Ayub Khan, said the plan, which was ``sold'' between 1951 and 1958, formed the basis of his country's military campaign in the 1965 war. Mr. Khan, in an interview on CNBC, made it clear that he was told about the plan by his father and the man who allegedly sold it was a Director of Military Operations between 1951 and 1958.

Asked by interviewer Karan Thapar whether he agreed that only a brigadier in the Directorate of Military Operations would have access to the plan, he replied ``correct.''

To a question whether this person headed the directorate at that time, he said, ``usually you do not post two brigadiers in one organisation.'' When Mr. Thapar asked whether he was pointing finger at five brigadiers who served as directors between 1951-58, Mr. Khan said ``that would be correct.'' However, he declined to divulge the name.

Of the five brigadiers who served as Directors of Military Operations during the period, one became the Army chief, one its vice-chief, one a Commander and two Generals.

PTI