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THE INDIAN NAVY :: Nemesis Of Notorious Neighbours

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So the ho-hum over Gwadar reached a crescendo in April 2015 astride Chinese crutches! The Giant Panda land is the only trump card that our cowardly, jealous, global pariah western neighbour has. And some nuclear bim-bams based on stolen technology! Those two pretty much account for the entire Pakistani pride.

A piece of the Earth that rarely, if ever, came close to hitting the bull’s eye in terms of justifying its existence as a responsible nation state; India’s western neighbour’s ego has just been bloated by the dollars that the Panda land has shoved down its throat. Or so they believe! With nothing but a deeply fundamental military as the only functional institution in a country of 18 crores; Pakistan’s other state policy has been to stay sold out to a major global economy.

With a far sinister agenda; the Chinese are fast turning Pakistan into a Chinese colony. The mandarins at Islamabad and GHQ, Rawalpindi, though continue to believe they are globally as important and command as much respect as India does. Therein lies the Pakistani folly. The realisation or the willingness to that effect is nowhere in sight though.
And so the unending saga of comparisons continue……………………

Those mullahs under the garb of military generals love to keep the old wounds nicely salted. That has ensured their bread and butter for 67 years. Every step taken by India towards progress causes deep anguish in the “land of the pure”.

The Indian Navy has been bothering them a bit too much…off late!

And we love it! Because all the jingoism that is inspired by Gwadar and its supposed infallible Chinese shield can be smashed to bits by a live concert of the leviathans of the mightiest Navy this side of the world. The Pakis know this and so they spit venom. That the Indian Navy is a powerhouse and its ambitions justified is a fact found extremely hard to digest in Islamabad.

India has been late in appreciating the importance of a true Blue Water Navy. The best in the business was being observed though. It’s global power and clout not unnoticed. Its ability to unleash a devastating strike on enemy infrastructure anywhere in the world was seen and believed. With 10 active Carrier Strike Groups; the world noted that there was nothing ambiguous about the intent of the United States Navy. Other ambitious nations were green with envy. After all they could not envision and therefore, failed to institutionalize a system that projects power in no uncertain terms. From being one of those rare navies that operates a CBG; time had come for India to develop its naval force into a true Blue Water one.

The Maritime Capability Perspective Plan for 2012–27 – released in 2011 – finally articulated the Indian vision for owning and operating one. A growing economy needs greater protection – protection of its territory everywhere including strategic sea routes to ensure uninterrupted and safe supply chain management. The Indian Navy surface combatant fleet envisages that by 2020; it will have in its inventory :

  • 3 carriers
  • 10 destroyers [ 3 Delhi + 3 Kolkata 15A + 4 Project 15B]
  • 24 frigates [9 Krivak + 3 Brahmaputra + 3 Shivalik + 7 Project 17A + 2 Project 17B]
  • 20 Corvettes [ includes 12 Project 28 and 28A ]
There could be as many as 34 submarines in total by 2020, while the Kilos and 209s will be retired before 2025

  • 3 ATV SSBN
  • 3 ATV SSGN/SSN
  • 2 Akula II improved
  • 6 U214 / S-80 / Marlin / Amur 1850 (Procurement under discussion)
  • 6 Scorpene
  • 10 Kilo Improved
  • 4 U-209
The key words are Carrier Battle Groups and Submarines. That is what India is focussing on. It’s India’s prerogative. The pressure though is building up elsewhere and we wonder why?

You see it is indeed a simple equation and one that reflects India’s enormous and justified ambition. Indian has worked extremely hard to get to this stage. And this is what the Pakis don’t get! We have a 7,500-kilometre coastline. Our peninsula has tremendous geostrategic prospects that if tapped properly can make India the undisputed master of sea routes extending over 5000 kms. India’s eagle eyes are finally focused on the juicy trail extending from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca which a powerful Indian navy can successfully dominate. The United States Energy Information Administration website in its report World Oil Transit Chokepoints dated November 14, 2014 states “World chokepoints for maritime transit of oil are a critical part of global energy security. About 63% of the world’s oil production moves on maritime routes. The Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca are the world’s most important strategic chokepoints by volume of oil transit”. China is acutely aware of the awesome geostrategic position that India has in this crucial energy route and is thoroughly distressed by the prospects of the presence of a powerful Indian Navy in this arena. Hence, it is investing millions of dollars to develop Gwadar and associated infrastructure in Pakistan. And it is burning tons of midnight oil to put together funny necklaces and garlands by bribing neighbouring countries!

Now that India has consigned to flames a lot of philosophical rubbish that was clouding its strategic vision; the Indian Navy is going full steam ahead building and developing new bases such as the major naval base at Karwar and significant naval infrastructure at Tuticorin, Kamarta, Diglipur, Campbell Bay and Paradip. The Indian Navy is working to augment its presence in the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. Three forward operating bases are being operationalised in Andaman and Nicober Islands, namely Campbell Bay, Diglipur and Kamorta. Key naval aviation infrastructure is being developed in Andaman and Karwar and two operational turn around bases in Paradip and Tuticorin. A brand new naval base has just been founded in Gujarat.

It is in this geostrategic set up that a Carrier Battle Group assumes paramount importance. The presence of a strong CBG just outside the territorial waters of adversaries has significant, mind numbing impact on the mental state of the governments concerned. In more ways than one the Indian Navy already has that impact. Make no mistake; India is rapidly developing its Navy. There is only one way to look and that is forward. Under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi; India’s armed forces have got a much needed shot in the arm and the Navy has been truly in the thick of things. To secure its future; India has to prepare to dominate the Hormuz-Malacca theatre. As one heads towards the southern tip of India; the Indian Ocean lays out what is rapidly becoming the hottest geostrategic playground in the world. No country in this theatre is either of India’s size or has the naval power anywhere close to India’s.

India’s future will be well secured if its political and military leadership is able to put into place four powerful Carrier Battle Groups – one in the Arabian Sea to manage the Strait of Hormuz and Pakistan, next in the southern Indian Ocean and the third one to manage the Strait of Malacca. There has to be one that acts as a force multiplier wherever required or is on standby. It could be also be deployed in the international waters of the South China Sea to confuse and unnerve the Chinese. In PM Modi we have a PM who has the ability to do just that. Today India has two CBGs in operation but one – INS Viraat is slated for decommissioning in 2016 and the very new – INS Vikramaditya is still to be armed to expectations. The under construction – 40,000 tonnes INS Vikrant will most likely join the Navy in 2018-19 while the – 65,000 tonnes INS Vishal is still on the drawing board.

The good bit is that such important aspects are under focus like never before. The good bit is that the United States believes there is merit in supporting the development of the Indian Navy. The US has noted well the contribution of the Indian Diaspora to its economy, politics and education. It has noted without mistake the high brand equity of the responsible global Indian who is hailed worldwide for making meaningful contribution to the world at large. Indians are not nabbed as terrorists and don’t make it to classified watch lists of governments.

The other good bit is that Pakistan is unnerved like never before! It is a country that thrives on the nuclear rhetoric while being fully conscious of the risk they will expose themselves to if at all they decide to use their bombs made with stolen technology. But that is what Pakistan is – a global headache ran for decades by hate breeders who have abused Islam for keeping their positions strong. A powerful Indian Navy is a major concern for them. And as news reaches them about the commissioning of a new aircraft carrier, destroyer, corvette, submarine, CIWS, frigate, mine sweeper and much more; the anxiety shoots up further. This pressure needs to be ensured and enhanced. Let China sweat too.

Pakistani Generals are concerned about the speed with which the Indian Navy can overwhelm their coastal cities in the event of a war. China knows that Gwadar can be smashed to bits in no time and hence, the progress on that front has been dragging. Both Pakistan and China are deeply concerned about India’s involvement with the Chabahar Port in Iran. Given its sheer proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, India’s deep ties with Iran and Iran’s utter dislike for Paksitan; the presence of an Indian CBG in that area will neutralise the objective that China wants to achieve from Gwadar. The scenario is very clear.

Pakistan’s dumb foreign policy which has recently successfully infuriated the Arabs makes matters simpler for India. With its directionless government, empty coffers, and dependence on aid to manage its working capital requirement, terrorism and lack of leadership; Pakistan is nicely multiplying China’s problems. Deep inside Beijing; Pakistan is seen as a huge liability but one that China is managing quietly for various objectives that it believes it will eventually secure at the expense of Pakistan. China has its own problems around the South China Sea and it has a weak Pakistan to manage as well. The presence of the strong navies of India, Japan and the United States – which are close allies as well – is a deal a tad too expensive for China to handle.

There is nothing ambiguous about the Indian ambition now. There is nothing ambiguous about our intent to prepare well for the future. It is firing from all cylinders to establish credible deterrence from land, air and sea based platforms. The progress has been good with a lot more being done. For India is the master of the Indian Ocean whether China or its Pakistani stooges like or not! Focus is on commensurate development of key supporting infrastructure like the Gurgaon based Information Management & Analysis Centre that the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard launched in 2014. The establishment of the Shore Based Test Facility at Goa is another example of how India’s military strategists are focusing on all round development of the Indian Navy. India’s new and modern carriers are being equipped with the Mig-29K, the Tejas naval variant is under development and the Sikorsky S-70B multi role naval helicopters are on their way to add force to the firepower of the Indian Navy. The Barak 8 CIWS system deployment has started and represents one amongst many state of the art weapon systems that India is equipping its warships with.

For Indians, there is a lot to cheer for and for our enemies there is a lot to worry especially for our inconsequential neighbour Pakistan. There is nothing ambiguous about India’s intent to safeguard its own interests. India is the undisputed master of its destiny. And that is the bottom line !



THE INDIAN NAVY :: Nemesis Of Notorious Neighbours - IBC World News
 
Article just shows that,writer has got
butthurt_39_o_39_meter.gif
 
Future powers of Indian Navy is just mind boggling .From regional power to Global player.
Article just shows that,writer has got
butthurt_39_o_39_meter.gif

I rather put it as unwanted rhetoric with facts . the investment made in Pakistan is always will be in risk. Internally or externally . You must say big thanks to Chinese for helping you out at this point of time. But its not worth selling out which am worried Pakistan may lose control over your lands which might become a flash point between you two in near future .You are too religious and Chinese are extremely Anti religious.

But wonder how Pakistan and China will cope up once Chabahar is commissioned our Naval assets are placed closed to it in the name of security. If Chinese does the same at gwadar port then India will move into Vietnam's Port for permanent base to protect our interested . Point is Indian Navy's ambitious plan's are enormous need lots of money to counter which will be unaffordable to China and so to Pakistan. Our partners in SCS and our strategic patners like Auzzie , Japan and US are getting aggressive day by day . Will China have enough firepower to thwart any aggression by these three alone ? Let alone India and Vietnam .
 
Strange

The article don't even mentioned our naval Aviation with 150 + Aircrafts including 4 + Gen. Mig 29 K

yourfile.gif
 
In 1960s It was a Brown Water Navy.

Today it is Green Water Navy and on verge of becoming Blue Water Navy.

Infact several experts say it is already a Blue Water Navy.
 
Future powers of Indian Navy is just mind boggling .From regional power to Global player.


1)I rather put it as unwanted rhetoric with facts . the investment made in Pakistan is always will be in risk. Internally or externally . You must say big thanks to Chinese for helping you out at this point of time. But its not worth selling out which am worried Pakistan may lose control over your lands which might become a flash point between you two in near future .You are too religious and Chinese are extremely Anti religious.

2)But wonder how Pakistan and China will cope up once Chabahar is commissioned our Naval assets are placed closed to it in the name of security. If Chinese does the same at gwadar port then India will move into Vietnam's Port for permanent base to protect our interested .
2)Point is Indian Navy's ambitious plan's are enormous need lots of money to counter which will be unaffordable to China and so to Pakistan.

3)Our partners in SCS and our strategic patners like Auzzie , Japan and US are getting aggressive day by day . Will China have enough firepower to thwart any aggression by these three alone ? Let alone India and Vietnam .
Boy you are surely dumb there is no external threat to Pakistan,what you will secure using your navy in Afghanistan from were we can block route to CA on single phone call.And does such level of cooperation exists between Vietnam and India which will give you bases over night.
Stop over rating yourself boy.Are you sure about china which is commissions a destroyer every six months it has both huge money and shipyards for any such race,kid stop writing before knowing facts.
For num 3 you are very good at day dreaming...
 
Overall a good prospect seeing how navy is shaping it's entire( its modernization plan & addressing future bottleneck in indian ocean) strategy to deal with any adversaries in Indian ocean.... All we need is a firm gov n leadership which can reciprocate such ambitious plan of navy and other forces....
Also let keep the focus on to grow economically .....
 
Boy you are surely dumb there is no external threat to Pakistan,what you will secure using your navy in Afghanistan from were we can block route to CA on single phone call.

I remember this "Single Phone Call" did invite USN 7th Fleet in BOB,but they disengaged when they faced Russians..

The lesson,Stop relying on others on Critical tasks..

by the way,here,I want to ask,you're going to call whom??Afghanistan or Tajikistan??
 
Last edited:
I remember this "Single Phone Call" did invite USN 7th Fleet in BOB,but they disengaged when they faced Russians..

The lesson,Stop relying on others on Critical tasks..

by the way,here,I want to ask,you're going to call whom??Afghanistan or Tajikistan??
And that call is known only to Indians not us kid US whole interest was in West Pakistan not East so they never sent any support even spares for equipment,they did ask Pakistan they will help but 7th feet was busy in Vietnam kid learn something about mutual interest.
 
This writer was suffering from colon tearing and someone gave him a full bottle of hot Pakistani red chilli.....My sympathies with his pain.....but being an indian this offspring of indian national sport, he is never going to heal


So the ho-hum over Gwadar reached a crescendo in April 2015 astride Chinese crutches! The Giant Panda land is the only trump card that our cowardly, jealous, global pariah western neighbour has. And some nuclear bim-bams based on stolen technology! Those two pretty much account for the entire Pakistani pride.

A piece of the Earth that rarely, if ever, came close to hitting the bull’s eye in terms of justifying its existence as a responsible nation state; India’s western neighbour’s ego has just been bloated by the dollars that the Panda land has shoved down its throat. Or so they believe! With nothing but a deeply fundamental military as the only functional institution in a country of 18 crores; Pakistan’s other state policy has been to stay sold out to a major global economy.

With a far sinister agenda; the Chinese are fast turning Pakistan into a Chinese colony. The mandarins at Islamabad and GHQ, Rawalpindi, though continue to believe they are globally as important and command as much respect as India does. Therein lies the Pakistani folly. The realisation or the willingness to that effect is nowhere in sight though.
And so the unending saga of comparisons continue……………………

Those mullahs under the garb of military generals love to keep the old wounds nicely salted. That has ensured their bread and butter for 67 years. Every step taken by India towards progress causes deep anguish in the “land of the pure”.

The Indian Navy has been bothering them a bit too much…off late!

And we love it! Because all the jingoism that is inspired by Gwadar and its supposed infallible Chinese shield can be smashed to bits by a live concert of the leviathans of the mightiest Navy this side of the world. The Pakis know this and so they spit venom. That the Indian Navy is a powerhouse and its ambitions justified is a fact found extremely hard to digest in Islamabad.

India has been late in appreciating the importance of a true Blue Water Navy. The best in the business was being observed though. It’s global power and clout not unnoticed. Its ability to unleash a devastating strike on enemy infrastructure anywhere in the world was seen and believed. With 10 active Carrier Strike Groups; the world noted that there was nothing ambiguous about the intent of the United States Navy. Other ambitious nations were green with envy. After all they could not envision and therefore, failed to institutionalize a system that projects power in no uncertain terms. From being one of those rare navies that operates a CBG; time had come for India to develop its naval force into a true Blue Water one.

The Maritime Capability Perspective Plan for 2012–27 – released in 2011 – finally articulated the Indian vision for owning and operating one. A growing economy needs greater protection – protection of its territory everywhere including strategic sea routes to ensure uninterrupted and safe supply chain management. The Indian Navy surface combatant fleet envisages that by 2020; it will have in its inventory :

  • 3 carriers
  • 10 destroyers [ 3 Delhi + 3 Kolkata 15A + 4 Project 15B]
  • 24 frigates [9 Krivak + 3 Brahmaputra + 3 Shivalik + 7 Project 17A + 2 Project 17B]
  • 20 Corvettes [ includes 12 Project 28 and 28A ]
There could be as many as 34 submarines in total by 2020, while the Kilos and 209s will be retired before 2025

  • 3 ATV SSBN
  • 3 ATV SSGN/SSN
  • 2 Akula II improved
  • 6 U214 / S-80 / Marlin / Amur 1850 (Procurement under discussion)
  • 6 Scorpene
  • 10 Kilo Improved
  • 4 U-209
The key words are Carrier Battle Groups and Submarines. That is what India is focussing on. It’s India’s prerogative. The pressure though is building up elsewhere and we wonder why?

You see it is indeed a simple equation and one that reflects India’s enormous and justified ambition. Indian has worked extremely hard to get to this stage. And this is what the Pakis don’t get! We have a 7,500-kilometre coastline. Our peninsula has tremendous geostrategic prospects that if tapped properly can make India the undisputed master of sea routes extending over 5000 kms. India’s eagle eyes are finally focused on the juicy trail extending from the Strait of Hormuz to the Strait of Malacca which a powerful Indian navy can successfully dominate. The United States Energy Information Administration website in its report World Oil Transit Chokepoints dated November 14, 2014 states “World chokepoints for maritime transit of oil are a critical part of global energy security. About 63% of the world’s oil production moves on maritime routes. The Strait of Hormuz and the Strait of Malacca are the world’s most important strategic chokepoints by volume of oil transit”. China is acutely aware of the awesome geostrategic position that India has in this crucial energy route and is thoroughly distressed by the prospects of the presence of a powerful Indian Navy in this arena. Hence, it is investing millions of dollars to develop Gwadar and associated infrastructure in Pakistan. And it is burning tons of midnight oil to put together funny necklaces and garlands by bribing neighbouring countries!

Now that India has consigned to flames a lot of philosophical rubbish that was clouding its strategic vision; the Indian Navy is going full steam ahead building and developing new bases such as the major naval base at Karwar and significant naval infrastructure at Tuticorin, Kamarta, Diglipur, Campbell Bay and Paradip. The Indian Navy is working to augment its presence in the Andaman and Nicobar and Lakshadweep islands. Three forward operating bases are being operationalised in Andaman and Nicober Islands, namely Campbell Bay, Diglipur and Kamorta. Key naval aviation infrastructure is being developed in Andaman and Karwar and two operational turn around bases in Paradip and Tuticorin. A brand new naval base has just been founded in Gujarat.

It is in this geostrategic set up that a Carrier Battle Group assumes paramount importance. The presence of a strong CBG just outside the territorial waters of adversaries has significant, mind numbing impact on the mental state of the governments concerned. In more ways than one the Indian Navy already has that impact. Make no mistake; India is rapidly developing its Navy. There is only one way to look and that is forward. Under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi; India’s armed forces have got a much needed shot in the arm and the Navy has been truly in the thick of things. To secure its future; India has to prepare to dominate the Hormuz-Malacca theatre. As one heads towards the southern tip of India; the Indian Ocean lays out what is rapidly becoming the hottest geostrategic playground in the world. No country in this theatre is either of India’s size or has the naval power anywhere close to India’s.

India’s future will be well secured if its political and military leadership is able to put into place four powerful Carrier Battle Groups – one in the Arabian Sea to manage the Strait of Hormuz and Pakistan, next in the southern Indian Ocean and the third one to manage the Strait of Malacca. There has to be one that acts as a force multiplier wherever required or is on standby. It could be also be deployed in the international waters of the South China Sea to confuse and unnerve the Chinese. In PM Modi we have a PM who has the ability to do just that. Today India has two CBGs in operation but one – INS Viraat is slated for decommissioning in 2016 and the very new – INS Vikramaditya is still to be armed to expectations. The under construction – 40,000 tonnes INS Vikrant will most likely join the Navy in 2018-19 while the – 65,000 tonnes INS Vishal is still on the drawing board.

The good bit is that such important aspects are under focus like never before. The good bit is that the United States believes there is merit in supporting the development of the Indian Navy. The US has noted well the contribution of the Indian Diaspora to its economy, politics and education. It has noted without mistake the high brand equity of the responsible global Indian who is hailed worldwide for making meaningful contribution to the world at large. Indians are not nabbed as terrorists and don’t make it to classified watch lists of governments.

The other good bit is that Pakistan is unnerved like never before! It is a country that thrives on the nuclear rhetoric while being fully conscious of the risk they will expose themselves to if at all they decide to use their bombs made with stolen technology. But that is what Pakistan is – a global headache ran for decades by hate breeders who have abused Islam for keeping their positions strong. A powerful Indian Navy is a major concern for them. And as news reaches them about the commissioning of a new aircraft carrier, destroyer, corvette, submarine, CIWS, frigate, mine sweeper and much more; the anxiety shoots up further. This pressure needs to be ensured and enhanced. Let China sweat too.

Pakistani Generals are concerned about the speed with which the Indian Navy can overwhelm their coastal cities in the event of a war. China knows that Gwadar can be smashed to bits in no time and hence, the progress on that front has been dragging. Both Pakistan and China are deeply concerned about India’s involvement with the Chabahar Port in Iran. Given its sheer proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, India’s deep ties with Iran and Iran’s utter dislike for Paksitan; the presence of an Indian CBG in that area will neutralise the objective that China wants to achieve from Gwadar. The scenario is very clear.

Pakistan’s dumb foreign policy which has recently successfully infuriated the Arabs makes matters simpler for India. With its directionless government, empty coffers, and dependence on aid to manage its working capital requirement, terrorism and lack of leadership; Pakistan is nicely multiplying China’s problems. Deep inside Beijing; Pakistan is seen as a huge liability but one that China is managing quietly for various objectives that it believes it will eventually secure at the expense of Pakistan. China has its own problems around the South China Sea and it has a weak Pakistan to manage as well. The presence of the strong navies of India, Japan and the United States – which are close allies as well – is a deal a tad too expensive for China to handle.

There is nothing ambiguous about the Indian ambition now. There is nothing ambiguous about our intent to prepare well for the future. It is firing from all cylinders to establish credible deterrence from land, air and sea based platforms. The progress has been good with a lot more being done. For India is the master of the Indian Ocean whether China or its Pakistani stooges like or not! Focus is on commensurate development of key supporting infrastructure like the Gurgaon based Information Management & Analysis Centre that the Indian Navy and the Indian Coast Guard launched in 2014. The establishment of the Shore Based Test Facility at Goa is another example of how India’s military strategists are focusing on all round development of the Indian Navy. India’s new and modern carriers are being equipped with the Mig-29K, the Tejas naval variant is under development and the Sikorsky S-70B multi role naval helicopters are on their way to add force to the firepower of the Indian Navy. The Barak 8 CIWS system deployment has started and represents one amongst many state of the art weapon systems that India is equipping its warships with.

For Indians, there is a lot to cheer for and for our enemies there is a lot to worry especially for our inconsequential neighbour Pakistan. There is nothing ambiguous about India’s intent to safeguard its own interests. India is the undisputed master of its destiny. And that is the bottom line !



THE INDIAN NAVY :: Nemesis Of Notorious Neighbours - IBC World News
 
And that call is known only to Indians not us kid US whole interest was in West Pakistan not East so they never sent any support even spares for equipment,they did ask Pakistan they will help but 7th feet was busy in Vietnam kid learn something about mutual interest.

And thats what you've learned about USA's support on 71 war?
Seriously, you should study more..I'm in mobile right now,going to post materials soon.
 
And thats what you've learned about USA's support on 71 war?
Seriously, you should study more..I'm in mobile right now,going to post materials soon.
Yes tell me what i don't know i would be thankful to you......
 
the bloody slumdogs should focus on protecting their girls rather than considering suicide in case of nuclear war
 
Yes tell me what i don't know i would be thankful to you......

apart from political and moral support....


Details of U.S. support for military assistance to Pakistan from China, the Middle East, and even from the United States itself. Henry Kissinger's otherwise thorough account of the India-Pakistan crisis of 1971 in his memoir White House Years, omits the role the United States played in Pakistan's procurement of American fighter planes, perhaps because of the apparent illegality of shipping American military supplies to either India or Pakistan after the announced cutoff.(7) Of particular importance in this selection of documents is a series of transcripts of telephone conversations from December 4 and 16, 1971(Document 28) in which Kissinger and Nixon discuss, among other things, third-party transfers of fighter planes to Pakistan. Also of note is a cable from the Embassy in Iran dated December 29, 1971 (Document 44) which suggests that F-5 fighter aircraft, originally slated for Libya but which were being held in California, were flown to Pakistan via Iran. [23, 26, 28, 29, 33-45]

The Tilt: The U.S. and the South Asian Crisis of 1971

According to the State Department historian, 'When the fighting developed, the Nixon administration tilted toward Pakistan. The tilt involved the dispatch of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal to try to intimidate the Indian government. It also involved encouraging China to make military moves to achieve the same end, and an assurance to China that if China menaced India and the Soviet Union moved against China in support of India, the United States would protect China from the Soviet Union. China chose not to menace India, and the crisis on the subcontinent ended without a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.'


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1971 War: How the US tried to corner India
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December 26, 2006 14:14 IST
'India won a glorious victory against Pakistan in the 1971 war. It was the first decisive victory in a major war in centuries. And it was won singlehandedly, in the face of opposition and threats from a majority of the UN member-States, including a superpower. Every Indian patriot felt proud of this glittering chapter in the nation's history.'
-- Dr S N Prasad in his introduction to the Indian government's 'restricted' Official History of the 1971 War.

I am not usually a great defender of United States policies, but I have to admit that in the field of right to information, the US is far ahead of the Indian babus who obstinately block access to Indian archives under the lame pretext that this could 'endanger national security'.

A few months ago, the Office of the Historian at the US State Department released Volume XI of the Foreign Relations of the United States devoted to the 'South Asia Crisis, 1971': in other words, the Bangladesh War.

Flashback: 1971 War, 35 Years On

This 929-page publication groups together documents which were already known like the minutes of Henry Kissinger's secret visit to China in July 1971 as well as scores of freshly declassified material available for the first time to the public.

It throws light on a less known angle of the India-Pakistan conflict: The role of the nascent friendship between the United States and China. This is a welcome new piece in the puzzle of the history of the 1971 War.

Another piece is the Hamidur Rahman Report, ordered by the government of Pakistan after the war, which analyses the Pakistani defeat. 'Due to corruption... lust for wine and women and greed for land and houses, a large number of senior army officers, particularly those occupying the highest positions, had not only lost the will to fight but also the professional competence necessary for taking the vital and critical decisions demanded of them for the successful prosecution of the war.'

The US administration saw the unfurling events differently.

According to Kissinger, then American President Richard M Nixon's national security adviser, 'When the Nixon administration took office, our policy objective on the subcontinent was, quite simply, to avoid adding another complication to our agenda.'

But events in the subcontinent and the Chinese factor forced Nixon to change his stand. The new closeness between Washington, DC and Beijing and the involvement of the Pakistan president as a secret go-between greatly influenced US policy.

21nixon.jpg
According to the State Department historian, 'When the fighting developed, the Nixon administration tilted toward Pakistan. The tilt involved the dispatch of the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal to try to intimidate the Indian government. It also involved encouraging China to make military moves to achieve the same end, and an assurance to China that if China menaced India and the Soviet Union moved against China in support of India, the United States would protect China from the Soviet Union. China chose not to menace India, and the crisis on the subcontinent ended without a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union.'

The first US documents deal with the background of the conflict. Nixon's position was clear: 'We should just stay out -- like in Biafra, what the hell can we do?'

But everybody did not agree with him. In a telegram sent on March 28, 1971, the staff at the US consulate in Dhaka complained, 'Our government has failed to denounce the suppression of democracy. Our government has failed to denounce atrocities. Our government has failed to take forceful measures to protect its citizens while at the same time bending over backwards to placate the West Pak dominated government... We, as professional public servants express our dissent with current policy and fervently hope that our true and lasting interests here can be defined and our policies redirected in order to salvage our nation's position as a moral leader of the free world.'

When US Secretary of State Will Rogers received this 'miserable' cable, he informed President Nixon that the 'Dacca consulate is in open rebellion.' This did not change Nixon's opinion: 'The people who bitch about Vietnam bitch about it because we intervened in what they say is a civil war. Now some of the same bastards...want us to intervene here -- both civil wars.'

From the start, the Nixon administration knew 'the prospects were "poor"... the Pakistani army would not be able to exert effective control over East Pakistan.' Washington believed India was bound to support Mujibur Rahman. The CIA had reported that 'India would foster and support Bengali insurgency and contribute to the likelihood that an independent Bangladesh would emerge from the developing conflict.'

It is here that the Chinese saga began. In a tightly guarded secret, Nixon had started contacts with Beijing. The postman was Pakistani dictator Field Marshal Yahya Khan.

When on April 28 1971, Kissinger sent a note defining the future policy option towards Pakistan, Nixon replied in a handwritten note: 'Don't squeeze Yahya at this time.' The Pakistan president was not to be squeezed because he was in the process of arranging Kissinger's first secret meeting to China. The events of the following months and the US position should be seen in this perspective.

21indira.jpg
In May, Indira Gandhi wrote to Nixon about the 'carnage in East Bengal' and the flood of refugees burdening India. After L K Jha, then the Indian ambassador to US, had warned Kissinger that India might have to send back some of the refugees as guerillas, Nixon commented, 'By God we will cut off economic aid (to India).'

A few days later when the US president said 'the goddamn Indians' were preparing for another war, Kissinger retorted 'they are the most aggressive goddamn people around.'

During the second week of July, Kissinger went to Beijing where he was told by then Chinese prime minister Zhou Enlai: 'In our opinion, if India continues on its present course in disregard of world opinion, it will continue to go on recklessly. We, however, support the stand of Pakistan. This is known to the world. If they (the Indians) are bent on provoking such a situation, then we cannot sit idly by.' Kissinger answered that Zhou should know that the US sympathies also lay with Pakistan.

On his return, during a meeting of the National Security Council, Nixon continued his India bashing. The Indians, he noted, are 'a slippery, treacherous people.'

The State Department historian says, 'in the perspective of Washington, the crisis ratcheted up a dangerous notch on August 9 when India and the Soviet Union signed a treaty of peace, friendship and cooperation.' It was a shock for Washington as they saw a deliberate collusion between Delhi and Moscow.

During the following months, the situation deteriorated and many more refugees came to India. The Indian prime minister decided to tour Western capitals to explain the Indian stand. On November 4 and 5, she met Nixon in Washington, who told her that a new war in the subcontinent was out of the question.

The next day, Nixon and Kissinger assessed the situation. Kissinger told Nixon: 'The Indians are bastards anyway. They are plotting a war.'

To divert the pressure applied by the Mukti Bahini on the eastern front, the Pakistan air force launched an attack on six Indian airfields in Kashmir and Punjab on December 3. It was the beginning of the war.

The next day, then US ambassador to the United Nations George H W Bush -- later 41st president of the United States and father of the current American president -- introduced a resolution in the UN Security Council calling for a cease-fire and the withdrawal of armed forces by India and Pakistan. It was vetoed by the Soviet Union. The following days witnessed a great pressure on the Soviets from the Nixon-Kissinger duo to get India to withdraw, but to no avail.

The CIA reported to the President: 'She (Indira Gandhi) hopes the Chinese (will) not intervene physically in the North; however, the Soviets have warned her that the Chinese are still able to "rattle the sword" in Ladakh and Chumbi areas.'

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For Kissinger it was clear that Indira Gandhi wanted the dismemberment of Pakistan.

On December 9, when the CIA director warned Nixon that 'East Pakistan was crumbling', Nixon decided to send the aircraft carrier USS Enterprise into the Bay of Bengal to threaten India.

Let me recount an anecdote related to me by Major General K K Tewari (retd), Chief Signal Officer, Eastern Command, during the 1971 War.

General Tewari was present at a briefing the three defence services held for Indira Gandhi. She was seated at a large table. On one side was General S H F J Manekshaw, the army chief, and on the other Admiral S M Nanda, the navy chief.

During the course of the presentation, the admiral intervened and said: 'Madam, the US 8th Fleet is sailing into the Bay of Bengal.' Nothing happened; the briefing continued. After sometime, the admiral repeated, 'Madam, I have to inform you that the 8th Fleet is sailing into the Bay of Bengal.' She cut him off immediately: 'Admiral, I heard you the first time, let us go on with the briefing.'

All the officers present were stunned. Ultimately, their morale was tremendously boosted by the prime minister's attitude. She had demonstrated her utter contempt for the American bluff.

On November 10, Nixon instructed Kissinger to ask the Chinese to move some troops toward the Indian frontier. 'Threaten to move forces or move them, Henry, that's what they must do now.'

This was conveyed to Huang Hua, China's envoy to the United Nations. Kissinger told Huang the US would be prepared for a military confrontation with the Soviet Union if the Soviet Union attacked China.

On December 12, the White House received an urgent message. The Chinese wanted to meet in New York. General Alexander Haig, then Kissinger's deputy, rushed to the venue, but was disappointed. Huang just wanted to convey his government's stand in the UN, no words of an attack in Sikkim or in the then North East Frontier Agency (now, the northeastern states).

The myth of the Chinese intervention is also visible in the secret Pakistani dispatches. Lieutenant General A A K Niazi, the Pakistani army commander in Dhaka, was informed: 'NEFA front has been activated by Chinese although the Indians for obvious reasons have not announced it.'

Until the last day of the war, Pakistan expected its Chinese saviour to strike, but Beijing never did.

In Washington, Nixon analysed the situation thus: 'If the Russians get away with facing down the Chinese and the Indians get away with licking the Pakistanis...we may be looking down the gun barrel.' Nixon was not sure about China. Did they really intend to start a military action against India?


1971 War: How the US tried to corner India

there is a great thread in PDF on USN 8th fleet action and ground invasion plan which also had details of Russian Navy and Indian Navy's detailed actions..I'll search for it..

for now...

1971 War: How Russia sank Nixon’s gunboat diplomacy | Russia & India Report

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US forces had orders to target Indian Army in 1971 - The Times of India

US Fleet in Bay of Bengal: A game of deception

1971 India Pakistan War: Role of Russia, China, America and Britain
 

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