Russia’s role during India-Pakistan conflict very unlike decades old friendship as it remained silent during Operation Sindoor, should India…
Operation Sindoor: During Operation Sindoor, Russian weapons certainly forced Pakistan to kneel, but Moscow’s silence has raised serious questions about Putin’s policy in the world of diplomacy. Russia remained completely silent during India’s Operation Sindoor, while China’s tone was threatening towards India. China was indirectly aligned with Pakistan and it is believed that the Chinese provided assistance in networking and electronic warfare to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF). Additionally, China had also supplied the PL-15 missile to Pakistan just before the conflict with India, which was used against India. Therefore, questions are being raised about how China is positioned with Pakistan; will it openly become an ally of Pakistan during future wars? Should India now prepare for a ‘two front war’ in any case?
Russia’s role during Operation Sindoor
Questions are being raised over Russia’s silence during the India-Pakistan conflict since it has always been a tested and reliable partner for India. Analysts are doubtful about the relationship between Moscow and New Delhi due to its silence. Is it because Russia is burdened by China’s favours in the Russia-Ukraine war? Whenever Pakistan has forced war, India has faced it alone every time, except in 1971, when Russia stood in support of India while China has not been able to directly stand with Pakistan for several reasons, it has continued to provide support internally. Thus, for India, Chinese assistance to Pakistan is not a new thing.
Challenge of Two Front War
In a report by Eurasian Times, geopolitical defense expert Prakash Nanda has stated that India has always faced the challenge of ‘Two Front War’ in every war against Pakistan. From a strategic standpoint, there are two types of ‘Two Front War’ situations: first, to covertly support as an ally, and second, direct confrontation. After Operation Sindoor, the meaning of ‘Two Front War’ has changed, and the likelihood of China directly participating in the next war has increased significantly, as China has realized that Pakistan is incapable of confronting India alone under any circumstances. Therefore, China, which has so far been providing covert support to Pakistan against India through moral, political, and military assistance, may soon openly become Pakistan’s war partner against India.
This topic does not feature Russia at all.
1971 Indo-Pak war
During the 1971 war, when the Bangladesh liberation struggle was underway, China took Pakistan’s side against India and harshly criticized Russia for supporting Delhi. China, while supporting Pakistan, accused India and Russia of ‘expansionism’ and promised to defend Pakistan’s ‘sovereignty’ and had called Russian assistance ‘shameful’.
Russia, under Vladimir Putin, appears to have deviated from the decades old friendship with India which started during the intensity of the Cold War when Russia was part of the Soviet Union, or (officially) the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). The first and only Indian to travel to space in 1984, Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma, Ashoka Chakra, flew aboard the Soviet rocket Soyuz T-11 on 3 April 1984. He also received the title of “Hero of the Soviet Union” for the same feat.
Things now just don’t look the same.
It all boils down to the reality that India must be prepared for the challenge of a ‘two-front’ war at all costs on its own and keep its military, diplomatic, and cyber capabilities ready accordingly. India must fight all battles on its own without expecting any help from Russia or the United States.
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