Army to cross border only in self-defence
From our Special Correspondent, NEW DELHI Nov. 24.-Indian Armed Forces, which until recently were under orders not to cross the border whatever the provocation from Pakistan, have now been instructed that, if they are under attack, they may take the battle into Pakistani territory in self-defence.
This qualitative change in the public attitude of the Government of India has been brought about by the developments on the IndoBangladesh border during the past month. The battle in the Boyra sector on Sunday—the biggest so far–does not appear to have taken place wholly in our territory.
The size of the battle may be gauged from the Prime Minister’s statement in Parliament today that 13 Pakistani tanks were destroyed. In the same sector, an air battle took place the following day, Monday, in which our Gnats destroyed three Pakistani Sabre jets.
Islamabad has admitted that it has lost three Sabre jets. Radio Pakistan, after giving its own version of the battle, said yesterday that “three Sabres of the Pakistan Air Force failed to return.” According to Islamabad eight to 10 Indian Gnats attacked the Pakistani jets. While admitting its losses, it claimed that the Pakistani jets brought down two Gnats before being destroyed by the IAF.
An Indian spokesman denied the Pakistani claim to have brought down two Gnats. He said, “We have not lost any aircraft or tank.”
The Pakistani offensive in the Boyra sector was preceded by intensified activity of the Mukti Bahini in the Jessore sector. The Bahini’s operations have in recent days been so successful that the freedom fighters are now threatening the Pakistani stronghold of Jessore itself.
As usual Islamabad is trying to confuse world opinion by attributing the successes of the Mukti Bahini to Indian troops. It is letting the world that India has reinforced its strength around Bangladesh by moving several mountain divisions to the eastern front.
The ground and air battles in the Boyra area have been seized by Islamabad to further its aims to internationalise the developments in Bangladesh. It has, according to a Radio Pakistan broadcast on Tuesday morning told the United Nations that “regular Indian Army divisions have launched a major attack in several sectors of East Pakistan and that fighting is continuing.”
India is determined not to be stampeded into following Islamabad and proclaiming a state of national emergency. After being worsted in the Boyra sector battle Islamabad declared a state of emergency yesterday the plea that “Pakistan is threatened by external aggression.”
This is part of Islamabad’s campaign to internationalise the tension in the subcontinent. For India to declare emergency immediately would be falling into President Yahya Khan’s trap.
It is not that in no circumstances will India declare emergency. Such a declaration cannot perhaps be avoided if the situation hots up further and skirmishes begin also on the western front.
Except for occasional violations of air space, the Pakistani forces have so far generally displayed a wholesome regard for the presence of Indian troops facing them eye-ball to eye-ball, as they say in the army, and refrained from sending forays into Indian territory.
The Government of India does not feel the need for an immediate proclamation of emergency. The Government already has sufficient powers under ordinary laws to take care of almost everything even if an emergency situation arises. For example preventive arrests can be made and supplies of various kinds of articles can be regulated without recourse to emergency provisions of the Constitution.
Drafts of Defence of the Union Act and rules thereunder are, however, ready and can be promulgated as soon as the need for them is felt.
Radio Pakistan today announced the promulgation of the Defence of Pakistan Rules and Defence of Pakistan Ordinance 1971.
They come into effect immediately, Radio Pakistan said.
The new measure follows the promulgation of a state of emergency in the country.
The new ordinance applies to Pakistanis wherever they are the radio said.
Meanwhile, Pakistani artillery continues to shell Indian territory in Assam West Bengal and Tripura, an official spokesman said agencies yesterday, Pakistani troops shelled our positions east of Kishanganj and south-east of Ranaghat in West Bengal. On the night between November 22 and 23 there was an exchange of intermittent fire between Pakistani troops and the BSF north of Patiram.
On November 22, 50 Pakistani troops, concentrated opposite Shikarpur, opened up with small arms and light machine guns. The Border Security Force retaliated with a small arms. The Pakistani troops withdrew. No casualties have been reported on our side. The same day there was an exchange of fire between Pakistani troops and the BSF south-east of Ranaghat. Two other areas shelled by Pakistani troops on November 22 were in the vicinity of Gangarampur and Balurghat.
Emergency a device to avoid political solution?
three or four months, has no meaning except to decerve his own people and the world at large.
President Yahya Khan’s message had created on impression that at least it was heeding the advice of a number of world leaders to abandon military approach and to said political solution. She said, “We hope that the declaration of emergency is not a device to get out of the compulsions of seeking a political solution”.
Mrs. Gandhi drew loud cheers from the members when she referred to the successes of the Mukti Bahini. Since the recession of the monsoons its successes had apparently upset the plans of the military regime. The liberation forces of Bangladesh, with the full support of their entire people, have taken a heavy toll of Pakistan’s armed forces and have freed large parts of their homeland”.
Referring to the moving of Pakistan’s entire armed strength into operational positions on Indian borders and the launching of a massive hate-India campaign. Mrs. Gandhi said. “It has never been our intention to escalate the situation or to start a conflict. To this end, we have instructed our troops not to cross the borders except in self-defence. We cannot ignore our experiences of 1947-48. January, 1965 and August-September, 1965.”
On November 21, “Pakistani infantry, supported by tanks and artillery, launched an offensive on the Mukti Bahini who had been holding the liberated area around Boyra, five miles from our eastern border, Pakistani armour, under heavy artillery cover, advanced to our border threatening our defensive positions. Their shells fell on our territory, wounding a number of our men. The local Indian military commander took appropriate action to repulse the attack. In this action 13 Pakistani Chafee tanks were destroyed?.
On November 22. “the Pakistani forces called up an air strike of four Sabre jets on our positions. These were intercepted within Indian territory by our Gnats which destroyed three Sabre jets. Two of the Pakistani pilots, who baled out, were captured on our territory”.
Mrs. Gandhi referred to the “intolerable burden of looking after nearly 10 million terrorstricken men, women and children, who have fled from Pakistani oppression,” and said that the refugees wanted to return to their homes under credible guarantees of safety and human dignity. “We are determined to ensure that they are enabled to do so as soon as possible.”
The Prime Minister disclosed that since March. 1971 India had lodged 66 protests against border violations by Pakistan covering 890 incidents. India had also lodged 17 protests against air violations, covering 50 incidents. “However, these protests have had no effect and to cover up their incessant violations. Pakistani propaganda media have been putting out the story that we are engaged in an undeclared war and have mounted massive attacks with tanks and troops. This is wholly untrue.”
In fact, Mrs. Gandhi said. “It was Pakistan which threatened total war and moved its entire armed strength into operational positions on our borders and launched a massive hate-India campaign with the slogans ‘Crush India’ ‘conquer India’. We have, therefore, to take appropriate measures and move our forces to defensive positions in order to protect the integrity of our country and the lives and property of our citizens.”
UNI adds: The Prime Minister is understood to have told Opposition leaders that President Yahya Khan’s “peace overtures” were neither genuine nor serious.
Mrs. Gandhi said this was evident from the fact that Gen. Yahya Khan had not budged an inch or yielded on any point in regard to the basic issues involved in the Bangladesh crisis.
Gen. Yahya Khan’s new posture was meant for international consumption and none should be taken in by it. Mrs. Gandhi added.
At the meeting of the Opposition leaders, she had been asked about the implications of Gen. Yahya Khan’s Id message.
While not minimising the potential threat from Pakistan. Mrs. Gandhi said she wondered if the military regime would embark on any adventurist action in view of the state of full preparedness on the part of India.
Reference: Hindustan Standard 25.11.1971