NEW YORK TIMES, OCTOBER 20, 1971
INDIA AND PAKISTAN ARMIES CONFRONT EACH
OTHER ALONG BORDERS
By Sydney H. Schanberg
Special To The New York Times
New Delhi, October 19- The armies of India and Pakistan now confronting each other among their borders. Most Western diplomats here are inclined to believe that, at least in West Pakistan, the Pakistani troops moved up first and that the Indians moved in response.
According to high Indian sources, the build-up in West Pakistan began last month, and by last Thursday virtually all the infantry and armored divisions in West Pakistan were at or within striking distance of the border.
Some border area canals have been flooded as barriers and Pakistani civilians have evacuated several border areas -some on orders from the army and others on their own, out of panic the sources say.
Some of the heaviest troop concentration are reported to be at points where the Pakistanis crossed the Indian border in the three-week war over Kashmir in 1965.
The border areas of East Pakistan, where it is believed there are four or five divisions have also reportedly been strengthened.
The Indians are also said to have four or five divisions along their side of the border. President Agha Mohammed Yahya Khan of Pakistan has charged that the Indians have eight divisions there.
In addition, the Pakistani troops in Fast Pakistan also have to cope with the increasingly effective Bengali guerrillas of the independence movement, who are receiving arms, training and sanctuary in India.
An estimated total of nine and a half million East Pakistani have fled to India since the Pakistan army moved in March and crush the Bengali separation movement.
India is believed to have positioned 12 or 13 divisions on the border with West Pakistan about 1,000 miles from East Pakistan.
Here in New Delhi, no war hysteria or panic is evident put some families are moving out of border towns have begun civil defense exercises including blackouts.
Indian sources would not disclose the number of troops at the border except to say that, “we are strong than they are.” The sources said the Indian movement to the border was either complete or virtually complete.
“We’re pretty well set now,” one key official said.
An Indian source said that “We had a tremendous fright,” on the night of October 14. after a report had been received during the day that Pakistanis would attack on the west that night.
“The General staff stayed up all night the source said. The report may have been planted or the Pakistanis might have changed the plans. We’re getting a little more sleep now, but the situation is such that any night could be the night.”
The Indian sources indicated that the Government was moving toward a harder stand against what they described as Pakistani border “Provocation.” such as shillings and mines laid in Indian territory.
“We’ve shown great presence but there’s a great pressure building in the Government firm counteraction,” one official said.
Asked if this counteraction might include pursuing Pakistani troops across the border, and if this could result in full-scale hostilities, he said: If it does, we will have to face the consequences”.
At a heavily attended news conference this morning. Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was asked about the urgings of the great powers for restraint.
“It seems very simple and plausible to say Pakistan troop will withdraw she said. “But Pakistan has been escalating the situation – by putting troops all along the border by their hate-India campaign and by their call for a War of Jihad (holy war). This is not a one-sided matter. You cannot shake hands with a clenched fist.”