The Times of India
Posted: 00:37:49 Thursday, 01 February, 2018
Page 1 of 1
Re: The Times of India
Posted: 01:14:01 Thursday, 01 February, 2018
Genocide in Bengal!
A war without end...
The situation in East Pakistan, or what now the Indian Government refers to as "Bangladesh", has long been a tumultuous one. The union between East and west Pakistan has never been fully secure, and in recent years an increasingly separatist attitude can be seen throughout East Pakistan- debates over public spending, alleged persecution from government officials, rampant corruption, and simply outright neglect- the list of grievances goes on and on.
In recent months, however, we have seen the total collapse of government authority in East Pakistan. Following on from the tragic Bhola cyclone, the deadliest tropical cyclone to ever be recorded, the Awami league achieved a landslide victory in the elections held a month following on from the disaster. Government efforts to provide disaster relief were delayed, and fierce criticism came from political leaders in East Pakistan, as well as from the international community.
The Awami League demanded the implementation of the so-called Six Point Demands, a series of powers that would see East Pakistan granted considerable autonomy from the government in the west. Seen as a precursor to the breakup of be union, the government was quick to reject demands and the situation immediately intensified.
In March of this year, the fateful operation that would see East Pakistan turn into a war zone, commended. Having obtained limited information from sources within the Indian government, we will now reveal what we know of this operation- operation searchlight.
Utilising the excuse of anti-Bihari violence in East Pakistan, the Pakistani military planned Operation Searchlight to pacify the quickly growing Bengali independence movement. All foreign journalists were officially expelled from East Pakistan - something which we can confirm had happened - and the operation began in earnest. The following is information obtained, allegedly, from personal accounts from both resistance members operating in and out of East Pakistan, and refugees fleeing to India.
The Pakistani military is alleged to have conducted a thorough and vile "purge" of the major cities within East Pakistan. Particular focus was given to areas where non-Musliks congregated, including the Jagganath Hall, a dormitory for non-Muslim students attending the university of Dhaka. Students were allegedly gunned down as they attended classes- and any fleeing students were quickly rounded up, their fate still unknown at this time. Various majority-Hindu neighbourhoods were also targeted, with one man claiming: "They [Pakistani soldiers] demanded we line up and subject ourselves to what they called a "short arm inspection". We were to pull down our pants, and they... They shot whoever was uncircumcised." Further accounts from refugees allege that the Pakistani military were complicit in mass rape, women being used as "toys" before being executed.
Indira Gandhi has issued scathing comments after hearing reports of the situation in East Pakistan, and has even officially recognised the government in exile - the People's Republic of Bangladesh. Promising a swift and decisive resolution to the crisis, reserves have been brought up and the military is on its highest alert. It seems increasingly likely that India will soon be at war with Pakistan yet again.
International reactions to the situation in East Pakistan have been muted. Libya, North Korea, and North Vietnam, have all surprisingly supported India in its call for an international response- all three agreeing to house and support any Bengali refugees that would seek refuge in their respective countries. Arab reactions can only be described as "mixed" - calling for negotiation and investigations before a judgement can be reached. Meanwhile, Western reactions are almost non-existent.
The nation with perhaps the most vocal reaction is China. Following official announcements from the government in Beijing, PLA units have allegedly been mobilised and sent to the Sino-Indian border. It remains to be seen whether this move is a sign that China will formally intervene - a move that would no doubt surprise many, given the rough terrain on the border, with winter a mere few months away - or if this is merely a sign of support for the Pakistani government.
The Times of India shall endeavour to keep all our readers updated on the situation as new information arrives.
Re: The Times of India
Posted: 03:38:20 Wednesday, 07 February, 2018
War with China!
Indian troops man a machine gun, preparing to meet advancing PLA forces.
Merely six years after the end of the first Sino-Indian war, a new conflict has arisen - and it is clear to all that the intensity of this conflict far dwarfs the previous war, which could be considered a skirmish in comparison. Mere months after China mobilised on the Indian border, Chinese troops have officially engaged Indian defenders across the subcontinent- from the jungles of East Pakistan, to Assam, to the distant mountains of Kashmir- bloody conflict not seen since World War II has arisen.
Thousands of soldiers have died in both sides, with the Chinese army allegedly catching the Indian military, according to a source in the military, "with our pants down.". When pressed further, he had this to say- "Who'd have thought they'd deploy more than half their army? Our units were outnumbered two to one." These words are deeply surprisingly, and is sure to be a source of great embarrassment for the military- the reason being, following the loss in the first sino-Indian war, a major effort was made to reform the Indian military, most especially its mountaineering corps, in order to repel a potential Chinese invasion through the Himalayas.
Following the outburst of hostilities between the PLA and Indian units, starting originally in East Pakistan, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was reported to have "burst into rage and confusion", further going on to say "Really? They decided to airlift units into East Pakistan?", presumably expressing disbelief. For the second time in India's short history as an independent nation, a state of emergency has been called, giving immense power to the government to act in the best interests of the nation.
Support for the war so far has been mixed, with many prominent political figures holding different opinions. The general consensus from our surveys, however, indicate a general consensus that support for the war is high. Reasons for this vary, but the most common reason for supporting the war was an obligation to help those in East Pakistan. The evidence of crimes in East Pakistan has been released to the international community, and this has no doubt influenced the Indian public, too. However, although Indian troops have thus far held the line in a broad sense, the PLA has made great inroads into Assam- further defeats like this could prompt a swing in pro-war sentiment.
The international community as a whole reacted with shock over the breakout of hostilities between India and China - many diplomats can be seen frantically moving to and from Indian embassies across the globe. Indian diplomats have also been working extensively to garner support and aid for the war, with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi even addressing the United Nations in an attempt to bolster the Indian position. Her words were bold indeed, and many did not fail to take notice of her direct comparisons to the Holocaust, and to World War Two. As to whether her words have had any effect- only time will tell.
Prospects for peace remain hopeful, in spite of the mounting casualties. Following talks between the USSR, the people's Republic, and India, the USSR has submitted a first draft for a comprehensive peace agreement, to the UNSC. Reactions are mixed thus far, with India calling for major revisions to the proposal, whilst the USA has lambasted the USSR for attempting a "land grab", accusing it of attempting to install a minority government.
However things develop: One fact remains clear- the Indian military has, in many ways, failed to learn from its defeat in 1965. Indian military strategists have worked extensively to better prepare for a future sino-Indian conflict, which includes a drastic increase in mountaineering units, as well as more extensive training for high-altitude combat for regular units, but it is clear that it simply has not worked. The PLA, although fighting a far more experienced force, relatively, has managed to do what was once thought impossible; conduct a full military invasion through the Himalayan mountains. One must wonder how complicated logistics must be, to supply over half the PLA in such conditions, but this is no doubt a major confidence boost for the people's Republic, and a severe loss of face for the Indian military. Moving forward, whether the war is to end soon or whether it is to drag on in a brutal manner, the Indian leadership must soon start asking questions, and if this war is any indication, it is imperative that lessons are well and truly learned from this conflict.
The Times of India shall endeavour to keep all readers informed of news relating to the ongoing war, and we also extend our thoughts and prayers to those suffering under occupation from the people's Republic.
Indian troops man a machine gun, preparing to meet advancing PLA forces.
Merely six years after the end of the first Sino-Indian war, a new conflict has arisen - and it is clear to all that the intensity of this conflict far dwarfs the previous war, which could be considered a skirmish in comparison. Mere months after China mobilised on the Indian border, Chinese troops have officially engaged Indian defenders across the subcontinent- from the jungles of East Pakistan, to Assam, to the distant mountains of Kashmir- bloody conflict not seen since World War II has arisen.
Thousands of soldiers have died in both sides, with the Chinese army allegedly catching the Indian military, according to a source in the military, "with our pants down.". When pressed further, he had this to say- "Who'd have thought they'd deploy more than half their army? Our units were outnumbered two to one." These words are deeply surprisingly, and is sure to be a source of great embarrassment for the military- the reason being, following the loss in the first sino-Indian war, a major effort was made to reform the Indian military, most especially its mountaineering corps, in order to repel a potential Chinese invasion through the Himalayas.
Following the outburst of hostilities between the PLA and Indian units, starting originally in East Pakistan, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was reported to have "burst into rage and confusion", further going on to say "Really? They decided to airlift units into East Pakistan?", presumably expressing disbelief. For the second time in India's short history as an independent nation, a state of emergency has been called, giving immense power to the government to act in the best interests of the nation.
Support for the war so far has been mixed, with many prominent political figures holding different opinions. The general consensus from our surveys, however, indicate a general consensus that support for the war is high. Reasons for this vary, but the most common reason for supporting the war was an obligation to help those in East Pakistan. The evidence of crimes in East Pakistan has been released to the international community, and this has no doubt influenced the Indian public, too. However, although Indian troops have thus far held the line in a broad sense, the PLA has made great inroads into Assam- further defeats like this could prompt a swing in pro-war sentiment.
The international community as a whole reacted with shock over the breakout of hostilities between India and China - many diplomats can be seen frantically moving to and from Indian embassies across the globe. Indian diplomats have also been working extensively to garner support and aid for the war, with Prime Minister Indira Gandhi even addressing the United Nations in an attempt to bolster the Indian position. Her words were bold indeed, and many did not fail to take notice of her direct comparisons to the Holocaust, and to World War Two. As to whether her words have had any effect- only time will tell.
Prospects for peace remain hopeful, in spite of the mounting casualties. Following talks between the USSR, the people's Republic, and India, the USSR has submitted a first draft for a comprehensive peace agreement, to the UNSC. Reactions are mixed thus far, with India calling for major revisions to the proposal, whilst the USA has lambasted the USSR for attempting a "land grab", accusing it of attempting to install a minority government.
However things develop: One fact remains clear- the Indian military has, in many ways, failed to learn from its defeat in 1965. Indian military strategists have worked extensively to better prepare for a future sino-Indian conflict, which includes a drastic increase in mountaineering units, as well as more extensive training for high-altitude combat for regular units, but it is clear that it simply has not worked. The PLA, although fighting a far more experienced force, relatively, has managed to do what was once thought impossible; conduct a full military invasion through the Himalayan mountains. One must wonder how complicated logistics must be, to supply over half the PLA in such conditions, but this is no doubt a major confidence boost for the people's Republic, and a severe loss of face for the Indian military. Moving forward, whether the war is to end soon or whether it is to drag on in a brutal manner, the Indian leadership must soon start asking questions, and if this war is any indication, it is imperative that lessons are well and truly learned from this conflict.
The Times of India shall endeavour to keep all readers informed of news relating to the ongoing war, and we also extend our thoughts and prayers to those suffering under occupation from the people's Republic.