East Pakistan terrain suited for guerrillas
By Brig. W.F.K. Thompson, Military correspondent
East Pakistan, not much more than half the area of Great Britain, 55,000 square miles against 89,000 has a slightly greater population, about 55 million against 52 million.
There are many features present in East Pakistan which make it an area well suited for conducting guerrilla warfare. The roads are few and water transport is the main means of communication and the whole area is cut up by innumerable streams.
There is not too much forest to provide cover but those which exist are either strategically placed or will be very difficult to clear.
The Madhupur Forest lies between the main urban industrial areas of Dacca and Mymensingh The Patharia Forest is astride the Indian frontier in the south-east corner of Sylhet, in the north-east. It is in dispute with India and is a potentially important oilfield.
The Sundarbans, along the coast will be most difficult to clear.
There are foothills in the north-west and in the hinterland of Chittagong which are treeclad and sparsely inhabited.
Guerrilla wars have usually succeeded with outside support. Except for a small frontier with Burma and the sea coast, East Pakistan is surrounded by Indian territory.
The railway from the port of Chittagong by way of Comilla and Mymensingh to Dacca runs for much of its way parallel to and almost on the Indian frontier. Comilla, an important center of rail road and air communication, is only just within East Pakistan.
Moreover, it is much more difficult to distinguish between the East and West Bengalis than between the Bengalis and the peoples of West Pakistan.
Religion is the only link between the people of the two Pakistans, while other aspects of culture and language are common to all Bengalis.
Although all these factors would be favorable to a guerrilla war in East Pakistan, other factors for success may not be present.
The ability to organize resistance and the toughness and military skill to carry it out successfully, and Indian support are necessary.
An alternative source of arms could be China by way of Burma. but China is likely to continue to value her friendly relations with West Pakistan.
The most potent weapon the East Pakistanis probably have is no.t-co-operation, but this would probably mean starvation for thousands in the large urban centers.
Reference: The Daily Telegraph, Wednesday, April 14, 1971