In your rush to cut & paste you did not even read what is written after this statement
"At the beginning of April, the Army Chief called me on telephone to say that the Government required Eastern Command to move immediately into East Pakistan. I protested that this was impractical (because troops who had earlier been trained for mountain operations would require to be retrained for riverine operations. There were large, wide, tidal rivers, there was no bridging equipment and the coming monsoons would make access to unbridged rivers extremely difficult).
`General Manekshaw then asked by what date we would be ready. Provided we got bridging and suitable weapons and equipment, I said, we could be ready earliest by 15 November. This would leave adequate time after the monsoon for the terrain to become passable. Manekshaw, upset and impatient, replied that he would get back to me.
Read the report in full and you will see that it was end in the end of April a political decision to intervene in end of 1971 was taken.
So dont give the impression that in April the Indian army was already in position … they are a professional army and had planned their operations … not like Pakistan …
You are quoting from the offical Indian Navy website!!! So it IS offical line of India … what else do you want India to do … they are honest as you yourself have said
Dear AB, I really admire your nationalism. Really and I mean it.
I wish majority of Pakistanis be that patriotic with their country as well.
Now that I have admired your patriotism, let me humbly add that your replies (2 of them in quick succession) show you a bit off balance (intellectually).
I am simply quoting Manekshaw and his close generals for their honesty about 1971 that is generally absent from Indian intellectuals and net-posters.
Statements by Gen(s). Maneksahw and Jacob clearly show that Indian government was ready to pounce on Pakistan within days of March 25th. That pouncing was supposed to be done just like Indira's dad used against the state of Daccan some 23 years before 1971.
These are the dark facts about Indian designs on a sovereign country called East Pakistan. The sooner you accept these facts, the quicker you will join the honesty level of Manekshaw.
Statements by Gen(s). Maneksahw and Jacob clearly show that Indian government was ready to pounce on Pakistan within days of March 25th. That pouncing was supposed to be done just like Indira's dad used against the state of Daccan some 23 years before 1971.
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BP the situation of March 25 had a history .... it is just that the political leadership in India had a better understanding of it. If you really want to get into history of the trouble then you have to go back to 1947 for all the causes ...... including the denial of Bangla language ..... which was spoken by the major populance of Pakistan. But let us stick with 1970 elections, ZA Bhutto had no intention of letting another Bangla guy take the reign of country. He was willing for division of Pakistan since that was the only way he could be a ruler of Pakistan.
Even though India had no plans to liberate East Pakistan .... but the way things worked out, it solved Z A Bhutto's problem. He was in UN security council meeting .... he made a big fuss and left ...... leaving his army no choice in east pakisatn but to surrender. Infact i honestly belive he was hanged just for that betrayal.
Events of 1971 have a lot for Pakistan and India to look at ....... Sam was just a soldier who did his job. He had no other role in the events excepting doing what was asked of him.
You want to go into Deccan story .... ask teggy for a new thread. But it was a very clear policy to remove a princely ruler ........ a legacy of bygone era.
Only idiots will come on Pakistani forum and praise Stupid Indian Generals. You wanna talk about him start Indian Links and write columns on his bravery. Wrong place stupid!
comments such as this are unfortunate. Why not appreciate a true soldier who served the combined nations before partition for a life well lived and a job well done?
^ well said