Amid World Was II, A top Pakistani official had promised in 1968 to support India,on research of Subhas Chandra Bose’s secret journey to Europe.The Kolkata-based Netaji Research Bureau had questioned then PM Indira Gandhi for help to collect information related to Netaji’s trip in 1941 through Peshawar, Kabul, Tashkent, Moscow and Berlin.

PRS Mani(external affairs ministry joint secretary) said,“In normal times, one could expect that the Pakistan government will render all cooperation... but in the present circumstances, it seems advisable to first consult our high commissioner,”

When Indian high commissioner S Sen commonly checked with Pakistan’s information secretary Altaf Gauhar, he was positive. The file, meanwhile, does not reveal if the offer materialized.

In sixties ,Mr. Altaf Gauhar was the civil servant in Pakistan and  later went on to edit Pakistan’s English daily, Dawn.

Sen said,“Secondly, Mr Altaf Gauhar advised that while there was no objection to this kind of scientific research being undertaken with Pakistan’s cooperation, no publicity should be given to this matter simply because Netaji’s background has many political implications which are not liked by several political elements,”