"Main kuchh qubool karna chahta hun, Brigadier Sahib" (I have a confession to make), said Pakistani Brigadier Khwaja Mohammad Naser (Retd), to his Indian guest in Lahore, Brigadier Madan Lal Khetarpal. Naser then disclosed that in the 1971 Indo-Pak war, it was he who had killed Brigadier Khetarpal's son, 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal on the battlefield.

It was 2001, and Brigadier Khetarpal, who was born in Pakistan's Sargodha and came to India during the 1947 Partition, was visiting his ancestral home. But the trip that was supposed to be one of nostalgia turned into one of shock, and later, reconciliation.

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Naser, a Major commanding a Patton tank squadron in Pakistan's 13 Lancers armoured regiment, was leading the attack against Indian positions at Basantar on December 16, 1971.

Naser came to know about Brigadier Khetarpal's 2001 visit to Pakistan, and connected with him through mutual military academy alumni networks. He volunteered to be his host and guide.

The Pakistani officer revealed that 2nd Lieutenant Arun was on the opposing side and had destroyed several of their tanks. Eventually, only the two of them remained, their tanks positioned just a few hundred metres apart, facing each other. They fired at the same time, and both tanks were hit. But as fate would have it, Arun was killed in action.

"Your son was a very brave man, Sir. He was singularly responsible for our defeat," said Naser.

Arun Khetarpal was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India's highes