WHY THE YEAR 1971 IS STILL RELEVENT TODAY

The acceptance of the invitation to PM swear-in ceremony of Narendra Modi by Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif has raised several key and important questions. Will it change anything? Will it prove to be useful for both the nations? And very importantly will it bring peace and stability to the very volatile south-east Asia?

                                             

Well, that is something only time can tell, but what I do have to tell is that it’s not gonna be easy, and the year 1971 is not going to help it be. Although this is a well discussed topic, for the less-informed ones I’m gonna tell what exactly happened, how it boiled up and how the cookie crumbled(sorry for the cliché, too tempting). So, this is how it goes

HOW IT BEGAN?

Well for that we shall have to go back to time, well exactly onto the year of 1970.East Pakistani Bangla local party ( Awami league ) had won the election by a landslide but the bosses at the West Pakistan weren't too amused with this and the winning party was ignored and remained unrecognised. The local party started protesting and slowly there was a general murmur growing, clamour for autonomy, even some for independence. This was brutally put down and by brutally I mean systematic elimination of opposition along with killing, rape and deportation of the East Pakistanis. It was in fact so systematic it was even given a name; Operation Searchlight  which began on 25^th March .Some figures indicate almost two lac people perished in east Bangladesh from that operation. As a result East Pakistan rebelled declared itself as independent. Well, as of now India just watched the developments closely, but something’s gotta be done when you have one crore neighbors wanting to live with you.

Then East Bangladesh Refugees entering India

India firstly began secretly helping the East Pakistanis (whom now will be referred and Bangladeshis).A guerrilla group

‘Mukti bahini’ was started being funded by India. They carried several operations over the monsoon but they failed to do any critical damage.

An important day would prove to be the 3^rd December. Pakistan getting rather irritated with India on it’s involvement, began an air raid on India’s major airfields in the north to cripple it’s air force. Unfortunately for them it failed miserably and on the next day they were quickly repaired. This was the first act of overt aggression by Pakistan. Thus, began a war so short and so intense it would be over before you could spell ‘Chicken Tikka’(Gen.Tikka carried out Operation Searchlight, just saying)

Another very interesting point to be seen is that India had already began building it’s troops on west and east Pakistan’s border and well, only Indira can tell us whether this was for the exact purpose of making Pakistan attack us or whether she would've nevertheless carried it out, or whether it was done for Pakistan’s imminent attack . Maybe even General Sam(You thought only Americans could have a Sam, huh?).

HOW IT HAPPENED?

'And if war comes again, I assure you that we shall carry it right into the enemy's biggest ports, like Karachi. I know this harbour quite well for I started working there. And you have my word that given the opportunity, the Indian Navy will make the world's biggest bonfire of it.'

-- Admiral S M Nanda, then Chief of Naval Staff, November 1971.

After the initial air strike carried out by Pakistan, India began it’s first ever naval operation, named Operation Trident. It began on December 4^th and it was mainly done to destroy harbor of Karachi, the most important and strategic naval hub of Pakistan. Several air raids were carried out and it was devastating for the port city. Majority of the navy of Pakistan along with merchant vessels, oil tankers, pipelines were destroyed and hence knocking out the navy of Pakistan for good throughout the war. A semi naval blockade was also established along the Arabian sea. Infact Pakistan as a result of the operation scrambled jets and bombed their won frigate, mistaking it for an Indian vessel. Naval India had established it superiority in the seas.

On the aerial zone, India quickly knocked out Pakistan’s airforce, which was poorly outnumbered and was facing a deficit of Bengali technicians in East Pakistan. India inevitably secured air superiority as well.

On the ground zone, on the eastern front India slowly began it’s offensive on Eastern Pakistan with the help of Bangladeshi militia Mukti Bahini. India used a tactic of blitzkrieg made popular by the Germans in World War 2. It basically involves a fast moving army which bypasses military strongholds and continues on fast advancing, concentrating on capturing area. India’s main objective was to reach Dhaka which they did. Surrounded on all sided by the Bahini and Indian regulars, the Pakistani troops quickly surrendered. India approximately captured 90,000 troops including regulars, Razakars etc. Till this date this is the largest number of POW’s after the world war.

On the Western Front too India saw some crucial fighting. The war saw some intense fighting along the Punjab-Rajasthan-Jammu border.

Somewhere along the West Pakistan front

Initially along Chhamb sector Pakistan’s regulars attacked, although better entrenched Indian troops gave way and Pakistani’s almost reached dangerously close to Akhnoor, a key town. This was one of the only successful thrusts by Pakistan.

Later on 2 very crucial battles changed the course of the war, one being the famous Longewala and the other one being Battle of Basantar. After personally reading about Longewala I initially didn't believe in it. How could 200 soldiers fight against 2000 plus 59 Pakistani tanks fight and win? The fight was a stuff of legend really. The Pakistani’s came in with these numbers and with help from the IAF they sent back with 8. Pakistanis saw this force large enough to reach Jaisalmer.

Another key battle was to be of Basantar, where the little bulge along Pakistan on the border of Jammu and Punjab border was assaulted, this would prove to be one of the bloodiest fighting in the whole war, but eventually Indian troops gained the upper hand and captured the area, coming close to Sialkot on the way.

A.A.K NIAZI SIGNING THE SURRENDER OF BANGLADESH

With these key battles the war with Pakistan titled to India’s favour considerably and with some land under their belt, India called for a cease fire and the war ended.

The Simla Aggrement, which i found to be a blunder for the Indian side, just gave away all the POW’s and the gained area to Pakistan as a gesture of “Goodwill”. I personally believe we could’ve bartered it for something else.

WHY WILL IT PROVE TO BE A ROADBLOCK?

The result of the war was devastating beyond repair, well it had to. Pakistan lost almost half of it’s territory and more than half of it’s population. Apart from that it’s army had made a very poor performance on the Eastern Front and a little better on the Western Front. This reduced the morale of the people and the armed forces. It also banished Pakistani myth that they could actually win against India. But unfortunately this spurred Pakistan to support militant groups in India and help do guerrilla warfare against our nation. This obviously deteriorated the nation. With several acts of terror in India linking Pakistan eventually our relations with Pakistan eroded. The fault cannot be fairly blamed on Pakistan or blamed on us. Pakistan is trying to do the same thing that happened during the war. But unfortunately all they have done is hurt civilians, rather than try to help the people they were, well ‘trying’ to help.

If we need peace we will have to forgive the bloody past that we went through. I know it’s easy for me to say, a person who hasn't seen any of those times. But when I said forgive it does not mean forget. Either side should not have a revenge mentality because frankly, politicians and militants have perverted that for their own benefit. Although I don’t have too high hopes riding on the meet, but I do hope this is a stepping stone to bringing peace, prosperity and stability to the south-east Asian region.

But as always the odds are stacked against us. Nevertheless both the countries and world governments watch in hope, some that a solution arises and some that it doesn't.

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