A proud supporter of Pakistan's first military dictator recently shared a USIS video report on YouTube, which has also been circulating on Facebook. The video documents General Ayub Khan's eight-day official visit to the United States in 1961, during which he and his daughter, Begum Aurangzeb, received a warm welcome from President Kennedy and other U.S. dignitaries. This note offers my reflections after viewing this ‘historic’ video.
Context: Ayub Khan’s Rise to Power
On October 7, 1958, General Ayub Khan, with Iskander Mirza's support, declared Martial Law in Pakistan. Within three weeks, Ayub ousted Mirza, proclaiming himself President and later assuming the title of Field Marshal. Some historians (e.g., Quaid-e-Azam as Governor General and Qaum Nizami) argue that Ayub's political ambitions were the result of a decade-long plan.
During Ayub’s regime, dissent was ruthlessly suppressed. Political activists like Hasan Nasir faced torture and death for resisting military rule, while progressive newspapers like Pakistan Times and Imroz were nationalized. Faiz Ahmad Faiz poignantly captured the oppressive atmosphere of that era in his verse:
Nisar main teri galiyon k aa watan, k jahan – chali hai rasm k koi na sar utha k chale
Jo koi chahanewala tawaf ko nikle – nazar chura k chale, jism-o-jan bacha k chale.
(May I be a sacrifice to your streets, oh motherland, where
It has become custom that no one walks with their head held high.)
Another poet, Habib Jalib, also resisted Ayub’s dictatorship through his evocative poetry. His verses, like the following, resonated with the masses:
Deep jis ka mehellaat hi main jalay, Chand logon ki khushyon ko lay ker chalay,
Wo jo saye main har maslihat kay palay; Aisay dastoor ko,
Subh e bay noor ko, Main naheen maanta, Main naheen jaanta.
(The light that shines only in palaces, robbing millions of joy,
Such systems and dawns without light, I refuse to accept, I refuse to acknowledge.)
Jalib’s satire, such as “Bees gharanay hein abaad – Aur karorron hein nashaad – Sadar Ayub Zindabad” (Twenty families thrive while millions suffer—long live President Ayub!), encapsulated public discontent.
Foreign Relations and US Ties
On the international stage, Ayub prioritized relations with the U.S., signing defense treaties and leasing an airbase to them while sidelining ties with the USSR. His policies laid the foundation for Pakistan’s dependency on Western powers, further aligning the country with U.S. interests.
Reflections on the USIS Report
The 20:49-minute USIS report portrays a carefully curated narrative. President Kennedy warmly welcomed Ayub, stating, “No one could be a more welcome guest than President Ayub.” Throughout the report, Ayub is referred to as ‘President Ayub,’ avoiding his self-appointed title of ‘Field Marshal.’ This deliberate choice by the U.S. government projected Ayub as a democratic leader, misleading the American public into believing their government supported democratic allies rather than military dictators serving imperialist agendas.
The report concludes with the statement: “…he (Gen. Ayub) impressed people (of the U.S.) by his force and loyalty.” The emphasis on ‘loyalty’ underscores the true nature of the relationship: Ayub was expected to serve as a compliant subordinate rather than an equal partner. However, Ayub failed to recognize this dynamic, later lamenting his treatment by Western powers in his memoir Friends, Not Masters.
Legacy of Ayub’s Rule
Like many dictators, Ayub never admitted his failures—neither as a ruler nor as the architect of Pakistan’s civil-military imbalance. His era marked the transformation of Pakistan into a security state, prioritizing military dominance over civilian institutions and social welfare. This imbalance remains unresolved to this day.
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