Articles in Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence
East Pakistan: The Problem
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 19 Nov , 2016
Undoubtedly India’s national interest lay in having a friendly regime in neighbouring East Pakistan as the economic and cultural affinities of the two Bengals were linked indivisibly. Part of...
1971 War: The Ganganagar Sector
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 08 Nov , 2016
The presence in the general area of Montgomery-Okara-Bahawalpur of the Pakistan strike force, II Corps, consisting of 1 Armoured Division and 33 Infantry Division, and the possibility of building...
1971 War: The battle of Chicken's Neck
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 06 Mar , 2016
Defence of the politically important town of Jammu and the security of the lines of communication leading to and from it was entrusted to 26 Infantry Division. This sprawling town, on either side...
The March to Dacca - I
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 12 Dec , 2012
On 9 December, Sagat Singh had secured the waterline of the Meghna in the general area of Ashuganj and was poised for an advance to Dacca. All the approaches to Dacca lay across the Meghna, which...
1971: The blitzkrieg in East Pakistan - I
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 04 Nov , 2012
When Tikka Khan landed in the political turmoil of East Pakistan on 7 March 1971 as governor-designate of the province, he combined in himself the office of Martial Law Administrator (MLA) and...
The pitfalls in evolution of Indian Army-I
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 27 Aug , 2012
The foundation of the Indian Army was laid by the British by combining in 1748 the “watch and ward” elements the East India Company employed to protect its trading centres. Initially, these...
Liberation of Bangladesh: War in Northern Sector - I
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 15 Dec , 2011
The northern sector comprised the U-shaped territory between the mighty Jamuna in the west and Meghna in the east, with the Ganga forming the base. The Brahmaputra ran diagonally from northwest...
Liberation of Bangladesh: War in Northern Sector - II
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 12 Dec , 2011
Lt Col Sultan Mahmood, Commanding Officer 31 Baluch Battalion, who was responsible for the area, explained when questioned after surrender that he withdrew his troops from Bakhshiganj to build up...
The Revolt in East Pakistan
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 07 Dec , 2011
When I reported on posting to Major General (later Lieutenant General) K.K. Singh, then Director of Military operations, on 12 March 1971, as his deputy, he said in his characteristic...
1971 War: The Navy in War-I
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 01 Dec , 2011
In their heyday of empire building the British consolidated their possessions by the gun power of the Royal Navy. Being essentially a trading nation, they shipped raw materials from the colonies...
The March to Dacca - II
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 01 Dec , 2011
The unexpected speed of the operations towards Dacca in this sector emboldened the Army Commander to allot 340 Mountain Brigade Group, then engaged at Bogra under Thapan, to harden the punch...
The March to Dacca - III
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 01 Dec , 2011
Exploiting Niazi’s pessimistic conclusions about the outcome of the war, the Indians stepped up their psychological warfare. A personal message from Manekshaw was repeatedly beamed by All India...
1971 War: The Air Force in War-I
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 01 Dec , 2011
The public clamour for Indianisation of the armed forces in the early 1930s led to the establishment of the Indian Sandhurst Committee. Along with other recommendations the committee insisted...
Defence of the Western Border - III
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 05 Aug , 2011
Ladakh and Kargil Operations Maj Gen SP Malhotra, General Officer Commanding 3 Infantry Division, was operationally responsible for the defence of Ladakh and Kargil tehsil of Leh district. He...
Defence of the Western Border - II
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 02 Aug , 2011
Jammu and Kashmir Lieut Gen Sartaj Singh, GM, General Officer Commanding XV Corps, was operationally responsible for Jammu and Kashmir. His area of responsibility was vast, and he faced two...
Defence of the Western Border - I
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 01 Aug , 2011
The Western Command The territorial jurisdiction of Western Military Command embraced the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Haryana, the Union territories of Chandigarh...
The Air Force in War-II
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 13 Jun , 2011
On the other hand, IAF first fought an independent war of counter-air action of its own, and later one of deep interdiction, but these did not influence the course of the land battles. IAF ground...
The Navy in War-II
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 02 Jun , 2011
After 1965 Pakistan tried to keep pace with the Indian naval program, but the stoppage of US military aid and lack of foreign exchange prevented matching progress. But three Daphne class...
India's Losses and Gains in Post-Independence Wars - II
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 02 Jun , 2011
India captured many outposts along the Punjab border in Ajnala, Amritsar, Khemkaran, Mamdot and Fazilka sectors with minimal tactical and economic advantage. On the other hand, in this very...
1971: The blitzkrieg in East Pakistan - II
By: Maj Gen Sukhwant Singh | Issue: Book Excerpt: India's War since Independence | Date: 22 May , 2011
Eastern Sector :The eastern sector comprised the area east of the Meghna in the destricts of Sylhet, Brahmanbaria, Comilla and Chittagong, and Chittagong Hill Tracts. The approach to Dacca lay...