They are called “the missing 54”- the Indian soldiers who disappeared during the many wars between India and Pakistan. And more than four decades after, their numbers and fate are unclear.
Last July, the Narendra Modi-led BJP government said that 83 Indian soldiers, including the “missing 54”, were in Pakistani prisons. But Pakistan has consistently denied holding Indian prisoners.
Chander Suta Dogra is an Indian journalist. She has been researching “the 54 missing” for several years. She tries to answer only one question: what happened to these men? She has accessed newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, diaries… she has spoken to relatives of the soldiers and retired army officers; always the same answer: missing in action.
Were these men really killed in action? Does India have any evidence against Pakistan?
The Indian government “admitted” that 15 of the 54 had been “confirmed killed” in response to a petition on missing soldiers in the early 1990s. but why does the government today insist they are still missing?
"It is clear that the government knew some of the missing men were actually dead. Then why did they retain their names on the list? Quite clearly, there is deliberate obfuscation and the government owes it to not just to the relatives of the soldiers, but the people of India to come clean," said Ms. Dogra.
One of the missing’s brother said: “In the euphoria over the war victories, we just forgot these soldiers.”
Yet, some stories would suggest that some of the soldiers are still alive. For example, the family of one of the missing was informed of his death in 1966. But, between 1974 and the early 1980s, three Indian prisoners were liberated from Pakistan. They told authorities and the family that the missing soldier was still alive. "We have repeatedly said that there are no Indian PoWs (prisoners of wars) in Pakistan and we stick by that position," a spokesperson said in 2007.
A soldier’s brother said: "I know he may not be alive. But then we should be told the truth. In absence of the truth you keep hoping that he will come back, don't you?"
Last July, the Narendra Modi-led BJP government said that 83 Indian soldiers, including the “missing 54”, were in Pakistani prisons. But Pakistan has consistently denied holding Indian prisoners.
Chander Suta Dogra is an Indian journalist. She has been researching “the 54 missing” for several years. She tries to answer only one question: what happened to these men? She has accessed newspaper clippings, letters, photographs, diaries… she has spoken to relatives of the soldiers and retired army officers; always the same answer: missing in action.
Were these men really killed in action? Does India have any evidence against Pakistan?
The Indian government “admitted” that 15 of the 54 had been “confirmed killed” in response to a petition on missing soldiers in the early 1990s. but why does the government today insist they are still missing?
"It is clear that the government knew some of the missing men were actually dead. Then why did they retain their names on the list? Quite clearly, there is deliberate obfuscation and the government owes it to not just to the relatives of the soldiers, but the people of India to come clean," said Ms. Dogra.
One of the missing’s brother said: “In the euphoria over the war victories, we just forgot these soldiers.”
Yet, some stories would suggest that some of the soldiers are still alive. For example, the family of one of the missing was informed of his death in 1966. But, between 1974 and the early 1980s, three Indian prisoners were liberated from Pakistan. They told authorities and the family that the missing soldier was still alive. "We have repeatedly said that there are no Indian PoWs (prisoners of wars) in Pakistan and we stick by that position," a spokesperson said in 2007.
A soldier’s brother said: "I know he may not be alive. But then we should be told the truth. In absence of the truth you keep hoping that he will come back, don't you?"
Les 54 disparus
On les appelle « les 54 disparus », les soldats indiens qui ont disparu pendant les guerres entre l’Inde et le Pakistan. Et plus de quatre décennies après, leur nombre et leur destin restent incertains.
En juillet dernier, le gouvernement de Narendra Modi-led BJP a indiqué que 83 soldats indiens, dont les « 54 disparus », se trouvaient dans les prisons pakistanaises. Mais le Pakistan a toujours nié détenir des prisonniers indiens.
Chander Suta Dogra est une journaliste indienne. Elle a fait des recherches sur les « 54 disparus » pendant plusieurs années. Elle essaye de répondre à une seule question : qu’est-il arrivé à ces hommes ? elle a consulté des coupures de journaux, des lettres, des journaux intimes… elle a parlé à des parents de soldats et à des officiers retraités de l’armée ; toujours la même réponse : disparus au combat.
Ces hommes ont-ils vraiment été tués au combat ? L’Inde a-t-elle des preuves contre le Pakistan ?
Le gouvernement indien avait « admis » que la mort de 15 des 54 avaient été confirmée en réponse à une pétition sur les soldats disparus au début des années 1990. Mais pourquoi le gouvernement insiste-t-il encore aujourd’hui sur le fait qu’ils sont toujours portés disparus ?
« Il est clair que le gouvernement savait que certains des hommes disparus étaient en fait morts. Alors pourquoi ont-ils maintenu leurs noms sur la liste ? Il est clair qu'il y a une part d’ombre délibérée et que le gouvernement doit non seulement aux proches des soldats, mais aussi au peuple indien de faire la lumière sur cette affaire », a déclaré Mme Dogra.
Le frère de l'un des disparus a déclaré : « Dans l'euphorie des victoires de guerre, nous avons simplement oublié ces soldats. »
Pourtant, certaines histoires suggèrent que certains des soldats sont encore en vie. Par exemple, la famille d'un des disparus a été informée de sa mort en 1966. Mais, entre 1974 et le début des années 1980, trois prisonniers indiens ont été libérés du Pakistan. Ils ont dit aux autorités et à la famille que le soldat disparu était toujours en vie. « Nous avons dit à plusieurs reprises qu'il n'y a pas de prisonniers de guerre indiens au Pakistan et nous maintenons cette position » a déclaré un porte-parole en 2007.
Le frère d'un soldat a déclaré : « Je sais qu'il n'est peut-être pas en vie. Mais alors, il faut nous dire la vérité. En l'absence de vérité, vous continuez à espérer qu'il reviendra, n'est-ce pas ? »
