Back to the story, Fayez was sitting casually and having a cup of tea with Captain.
"So, Captain, did you get higher-ups' permission for selling weapons?"
"You're a bit too reckless. Barely a day has passed and here you are, interrogating me," Captain complained, though in a light mood.
"Higher-ups are laid back now. As long as you pay in full, there won't be much of a problem."
Captain handed him a list.
There's assault rifles: Lee-Enfield, Sten 9mm SMG, FN FAL clone SLR, SKS, AK-47, Bren light machine gun, and Webley pistol along with estimated prices. I don't know much about them. Let's just leave the matter to a specialist. I can't spare too much money as running the factory will need a lot of funds.
Fayez handed over ten 100-rupee notes and said,
"I don't know much about guns, so just purchase whichever you see fit.
Also, what about the Indian officers? Are they okay with it?"
Fayez's concern wasn't unfounded. During the period of January to March 1972, the Indian Army forcefully disarmed freedom fighters for strategic purposes.
Though they claimed it was the only way to prevent civil unrest in the newborn nation, Fayez knew,
"There's always a good reason and a real reason."
Different unorganized militias would likely cause trouble, and various political groups would chase power, creating chaos. But India's true goal was to create a client state—not just a close ally, but one that would grant favorable treaties and policies to ensure a return on their investment.
Everything a nation does is bound by its self-interest. You can't be naive enough to think nations give weapons, aid, and loans purely to help their allies. It's just political investment.
India invested in the War of Independence to weaken their rival Pakistan, create a client state, and expand their hegemony. They invested heavily by supplying arms, aid, and sheltering 10 million refugees. Now was the time to collect the returns.
To ensure this, they had to support a government that would comply—and that was the Awami League.
People hated India for exploiting Bangladesh, but in truth, it was simply a business deal. The USA, China, Russia, and several EU states do the same thing around the world. Many of the messes and unrest third-world countries face are byproducts of these geopolitical investments.
From 1971 to 1975, India turned from a brother-in-arms to a strategic partner, and finally into an exploitative, overbearing foreign manipulator.
Anyway, India took back all the arms, humiliating the nation while securing its return. But as a byproduct, anti-India sentiment grew.
But what could be done? Can one just forget their benefactor?
Whatever their reason was, they were the ones who joined the war and made Pakistan surrender. We ought to be grateful for their contribution.
The debt of gratitude is the deadliest debt indeed.