Talk Heard In India of War with Pakistan on Refugees
Calcutta, June 7 (WP): Talk of a war with Pakistan has increased here as a result of the continuing flow of refugees into India, which confronts this country with an enormous, unwanted burden.
There is no evidence in West Bengal that the Indian Army has moved into positions from which it could strike across the Pakistan border. In general, Indian troops in West Bengal are continuing to observe the five-kilometer distance from the border agreed to by India and Pakistan.
However, army officers and government officials discuss starting a war should the refugee situation continue to worsen and should there appear to be no peaceful way for the refugees to return to their homes.
“We have talked about going to war”, a high ranking military source said here recently. “But we have not yet done any detailed planning”. He added that no troops have been shifted into the states bordering Pakistan.
There continue to be scattered Indian press reports or shelling across the border by both sides. In addition, the “freedom fighters” of East Pakistan are now operating from bases inside India, making hit-and-run-raids against the Pakistani Army.
“This could go on indefinitely”, a well informed observer remarked, but neither side could use any of these incidents as the pretext for a six-day war which would resemble the Israeli victory in 1967”. However, most people doubt that India could win that rapidly. A war with Pakistan would be fought not only in East Pakistan, where Indian troops would have the sympathy of some of the population, but also in the west.
Those Indians who consider a war a possible solution to India’s problems believe that by defeating Pakistan, the Pakistan Army’s control of East Pakistan would be shattered and the refugees could return safely to their homes.
“We must return the refugees. We cannot cope with millions of them indefinitely”, a government official said. “If Pakistan cannot be persuaded peacefully to take them back. then will have to consider using force.”
Premier Indira Gandhi told Parliament recently that “conditions must be created to stop any further influx of refugees and to ensure their early return”.
‘All Measures “
If the world does not take heed”, she said, “we shall be constrained to take all measures. as may be necessary to ensure our own security and the preservation and development of the structure of our social and economic life”.
Military officers are uncertain how China would react to an attack on Pakistan. Chinese troops face Indian units along their mountainous border, where the Chinese inflicted a quick defeat on India in 1962. China is closely allied with Pakistan and has given new pledges of economic aid to Pakistan’s President Yahya Khan since the East Pakistan fighting began on March 25. If China chose to commit its troops to aid Pakistan, India would have no hope of the quick victory that makes war an attractive alternative to some officers.
Before the refugee total began to soar, Indian military and civilian officials expressed confidence that harassment by the “freedom fighters” and economic problems would eventually force Pakistan to give up its military occupation of East Pakistan.
The refugees have involved India directly in the problem of East Pakistan and it press for a more rapid solution.
By Lee lescaze, International Herald Tribune, June 8, 1971.