'Annual reminder to Pakistanis': Ex-Pak envoy roasts own country with photo of Dawn’s 1971 front page post Dhaka surrender

Former Pakistani envoy to US Husain Haqqani took a jab at his own country on Tuesday by posting a picture of Dawn’s front page from December 17, 1971, a day after the surrender of Pakistani forces at Dhaka.

In his post, on the occasion of Vijay Diwas, Haqqani said that the newspaper’s banner headline, which reads “WAR TILL VICTORY”, is a stark reminder for his countrymen that “narrative is not a substitute for reality”.

“Annual reminder to Pakistanis: Narrative is not a substitute for reality. Front page of Dawn on Dec 17, 1971 - the day after troops surrendered at Dhaka to joint forces of India & Bangladesh -promised a victory that never came,” Haqqani said, indirectly ridiculing the Pakistani media at the time seeking to push an oversized narrative of defiance despite an embarrassing defeat at the hands of India which led to the creation of Bangladesh.

The Dawn front page from 1971 captured the narrative being peddled across Pakistan during the rule of General Yahya Khan.

Annual reminder to Pakistanis: Narrative is not a substitute for reality. Front page of Dawn on Dec 17, 1971 - the day after troops surrendered at Dhaka to joint forces of India & Bangladesh -promised a victory that never came. #Pakistan#Bangladesh#VictoryMondaypic.twitter.com/XHrPtNr5rH

— Husain Haqqani (@husainhaqqani) December 16, 2025

The newspaper reflected the official Pakistani military narrative at the time amid the defeat in the eastern theatre.

The headline “WAR TILL VICTORY” captured the Pakistani regime’s defiant public posture despite the war ending in surrender.

A day prior, on December 16, 1971, Lieutenant General AAK Niazi of Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender in Dhaka, formally surrendering about 93,000 Pakistani troops to the joint command of the Indian Armed Forces and the Mukti Bahini.

It was one of the largest military surrenders since World War II and brought the 13-day war to an end in the eastern theatre.

The Dawn page also carried then President General Yahya Khan’s pledge, where he claims to be paying tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces and people, projecting an air of resolve.

The paper reported that fighting had ended in the East Wing, framing it in a way that avoided acknowledging the surrender or collapse of East Pakistan.

It also sought to shift focus to the western front, highlighting Pakistan Air Force and army actions in West Pakistan, signalling continued resistance.

A prominent box declaring on the page titled “JEHAD means total commitment” and appeals to donate to the National Defence Fund underlined how the state mobilised religious rhetoric and public contributions to sustain morale and support the war effort.

Another key element on the frontpage was the emphasis on China’s promised support, reflecting Pakistan’s effort to signal international backing and reassure domestic audiences.

The archive photo, a classic example of wartime propaganda, mirrors Pakistan’s recent push to project Operation Sindoor against India as a victory.