Role of Indian Air Force in 1971 War

Jasjit Singh

The Indian Air Force which was initially created as an independent military force proved to be an independent and versatile component of India’s military power in 1971 War. This book provides insightful essays and material to critically review and revalidate some of the continuing concepts and approaches to the planning and execution of military operations. This edited version delves into the national interest protection and legitimate compulsions for India to go into war. The compilation also lays out the canvass for a comparison study with the one in 1965. The analyses on military strategy of Pakistan and avenues of shortcoming in joint planning bring out important lessons in force employment. The aggressive dimensions of offensive actions by all the three Services have been well documented.

The 1971 War proved the heroism, steadfastness and courage of junior leadership that, incidentally, has also been the hallmark during Kargil in 1999. Despite frequent criticisms on jointness, instances of combined resoluteness and mutual trust during 1971 War contributed immensely to the victory. Valuable lessons can be inferred from instances where objectivity in political decisions brought about judicious outcomes through demonstrable use of military power.

The book also provides a few analytical horizons on the background framework of Simla Agreement and certain events in the past that could have developed a different template for history. Air power may be difficult to understand but an evaluation of the purpose, cost and expected gains as evident from various instances of history including 1971 War would bring an end to many irreconcilable and inchoate debates. This book makes for a compelling read for those in quest of understanding the competence of air power and its dominant influences to shape victory.

Jasjit Singh Air Commodore Jasjit Singh AVSM, VrC, VM (Retd), is presently the Director General of the Centre for Air Power Studies and the recipient of Padma Bhusan for a life-time’s contribution to national defence and security as the country’s leading defence expert. He headed the country’s premier think-tank, the Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) for 14 long years till 2001. He is the founder Director of the Centre for Air Power Studies and has authored, and edited numerous books including Air Power in Modern Warfare; India’s Defence Spending, and The ICON (biography of Marshal of the Indian Air Force Arjan Singh). He is a Fellow of the world Academy of Art and Science and has lectured extensively in universities, defence and war colleges, and international forums in India and abroad.

Contents

1. Keynote Address
        P. V. Naik
2. Inaugural Address
        N. N. Vohra
3. Causes of the 1971 War
        Shalini Chawla
4. Revisiting 1971 War and the IAF’s Role: India’s Interests and Compulsions
        Kapil Kak
5. Force Levels in the 1971 War
        Vikram Munshi
6. Indian War Aims and Objectives
        Nishant Gupta
7. Pakistan’s Military Strategy
            Jasjit Singh
8. Jointness in the War
            T. M. Asthana
9. Indo-Pak War in the Eastern Theatre, 1971
            Subhash C. Chopra
10. War in the Western Theatre
            Dhruv Katoch
11. Higher Defence Organisation in War
            R. Venkataraman
12. The Simla Agreement and After
            Leela Ponappa
13. IAF in the Indo-Pak War 1971: An Assessment
            V. K. (Jimmy) Bhatia
14. Valedictory Address
            Vinod Patney