India’s Politico-Military Strategy for the 1971 India–Pakistan War India displayed its firm political resolve, robust military capability and deliberate decision-making process in the 1971 India–Pakistan War to achieve significant strategic success. The politico-military strategy evolved progressively from a cautious response to a firm decision to employ the Armed Forces at an appropriate time as the last instrument. India adroitly calibrated an indigenous freedom movement led by Mukti Bahini and concurrently launched a diplomatic outreach campaign to shape the environment in its favour. J.S. Cheema October–December 2021 Journal of Defence Studies
1971, the War as I Saw It Introduction Shamsher M. Chowdhury October–December 2021 Journal of Defence Studies
The Battle of Garibpur The ‘Lightning Campaign’ to liberate Bangladesh during the 1971 IndoPak War was one of the finest moments in Indian history. The ‘Battle of Garibpur’ fought on 21–22 November 1971, before the Indo-Pak War was officially declared on 3 December 1971, was a key battle in East Pakistan where a single infantry battalion, 14 Punjab (Nabha Akal) supported by a squadron of armour and intimate artillery support, successfully fought a Pakistani attack by infantry and armour. Vijay Yeshvant Gidh October–December 2021 Journal of Defence Studies
Politics in Pakistan and the Bangladesh Liberation War, 1971 The Partition of India in August 1947 was a colossal man-made catastrophe resulting in the formation of Pakistan, with its east and west wings.Jinnah’s two-nation theory ignored the diverse culture and geographical settings. East Pakistan got its first political shock when Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy—a popular mass leader—did not become the chief minister of East Pakistan. Further, in the initial period of state formation, there was forceful imposition of Perso-Arabic culture and Urdu language by the leadership of Pakistan, consisting majorly of Punjabis and Pathans from West Pakistan. Guru Saday Batabyal October–December 2021 Journal of Defence Studies
Malhama Tactical: Now Jihadists for Hire A conglomerate of elite jihadists called Malhama Tactical, a commercial enterprise driven by a for-profit agenda and not constrained by a specific ideology and defined enemies, has emerged as a serious threat as it can potentially connect and facilitate terrorist organisations worldwide. Saman Ayesha Kidwai October 14, 2021 IDSA Comments
The Curious Case of Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir The recent statement by the former Amirs (chiefs) of Jama’at-e-Islami Jammu and Kashmir, which was banned in 2019, seems to be a tactical move by the leadership to save the organisational structure from any kind of damage and to continue Islamisation of the society at the grassroots level. Manzoor Ahmad October 14, 2021 IDSA Comments
Did Pakistan Learn from its Bangladesh Experience? This article seeks to re-analyse the pattern of Pakistani response to the demands from East Bengal as a federating unit with distinct linguistic and regional identity, which led to eventual vivisection of Pakistan, and examine whether in the post-1971 years Pakistan learnt any lesson from its Bangladesh experience and used it to deal with similar assertions at ethnic and regional levels. Ashok K. Behuria October–December 2021 Journal of Defence Studies
Two Decades After 9/11: The Liberal Security Community Lies in Tatters It may seem premature to discuss the advent of an illiberal global order, however, the numerous catalytic events of recent years and the apparent decline of American heft in shaping global norms and structures might indicate that the international system is on the cusp of a major transformation. A. Vinod Kumar October 12, 2021 Issue Brief
Mistakes on Repeat Mode: Pakistan’s Civil–Military Debacle The military has been an integral part of Pakistan’s survival since the formation of that nation state. The idea of the country was based on a united Islamic religion, but series of events dampened the nation’s integrity. In the absence of robust political institutions to promote democracy, the bureaucratic and military apparatus made inroads into polity and expanded their role as dominant powerful elite in the initial years after independence. Karnika Jain October–December 2021 Journal of Defence Studies
The Mukti Bahini: Three Dimensional Guerillas Introduction Sandeep Unnithan October–December 2021 Journal of Defence Studies
