Mental fortifications in Dacca and physical defences on the border, seemed to hinge on each other. Fluctuations in one affected the fate of the other. If any other element had any significant influence it was the progress of war on the West Pakistan front. General Niazi, who literally flexed himself like a wrestler at the ill-founded news of our successes on the Lahore front on the second day of war, gradually lapsed into disillusionment by 7 December. At about the same time, the Indians occupied Jessore and Jhenida in 9 Division, ambushed the G.O.C. on 16 Division's main line of communication and stabbed the soft belly of 39 ad hoc Division between Comilla and Feni.

The same evening, General Niazi was summoned to the Governor's House to brief Dr. A.M. Malik on the war situation, because the latter was receiving contradictory reports. While General Niazi's Chief of Staff, Brigadier Baqar Siddiqi, reported gallant defence on all frontiers, panicky civil servants in the divisional and district headquarters telephoned the Governor about extensive damage to civilian life and property following army withdrawals. The Governor thought that the best way to discover the truth was to confer with General Niazi.

General Niazi's meeting with Governor Malik on the evening of 7 December was a very discomforting experience for him. Officially and publicly Niazi had maintained a posture which was not supported by the facts. Should he admit his set-backs to a civilian Governor as early as the fourth day of all-out war? Or, should he keep up a facade of defiance and fortitude? If he chose the latter course, how long would he be able to fool the Governor, the Government and the public?

Governor Malik, General Niazi and two other senior officers sat in a comfortable room at Government House. They did not talk much. Every few minutes, silence overtook the conversation. The Governor did most of the talking and that, too, in general terms. The crux of his discourse was: things never remain the same. Good situations give way to bad situations and vice versa. Similarly, there are fluctuations in the career of a General. At one time, glory magnifies him while at another defeat demolishes his dignity. As Dr. Malik uttered the last part of his statement, the burly figure of General Niazi quaked and he broke into tears. He hid his face in his hands and started sobbing like a child. The Governor stretched out his elderly arm to General Niazi and, consoling him, said: 'I know, General Sahib, there are hard days in a commander's life. But don't lose heart. God is great.'

While General Niazi was sobbing, a Bengali waiter entered the room with a tray of coffee and snacks. He was immediately howled out as if he had desecrated the room. He came out and announced to his fellow Bengalis, 'The Sahibs are crying inside.' The remark was overheard by the West Pakistani Military Secretary to the Governor, who told the Bengalis to shut up.

That