1971: How Pakistan Walked Into India’s Trap

NEW DELHI: This month half a century ago, India defeated Pakistan in a war that lasted just 13 days and led to the creation of Bangladesh. India was troubled by the steady stream of refugees from what was East Pakistan after the Pakistani army went on a killing and torturing spree. But India didn’t want to initiate the war so it waited. In the meantime, the Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) worked behind the scenes, closely coordinating with the Awami League leadership in East Pakistan and preparing for an offensive yet making sure India was not the aggressor. In this episode of ‘Simply Nitin’, StratNews Global Editor-in-Chief Nitin A. Gokhale narrates how India outmanoeuvred Pakistan.