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2008 India–Pakistan standoff

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2008 India–Pakistan standoff
Part ofIndo-Pakistani wars and conflicts

Map ofIndian subcontinent
DateNovember–December 2008
(1 month)
Location
Indo-Pakistan border
Result De-escalation
Threat of war was neutralised
Media of both side started the public sidepeace initiatives
Belligerents

IndiaIndia

Pakistan

Commanders and leaders
IndiaManmohan Singh[1]
(Prime Minister of India)
IndiaPratibha Patil
(President of India)
IndiaPranab Mukherjee
(Minister of External Affairs)
Gen.Deepak Kapoor
(Chief of Army Staff)
ACMFali Homi Major
(Chief of Air Staff)
Adm.Sureesh Mehta
(Chief of Naval Staff)		 PakistanYusuf Raza Gilani
(Prime Minister of Pakistan)
Asif Ali Zardari
(President of Pakistan)
PakistanAhmad Mukhtar
(Defence Minister of Pakistan)
GenTariq Majid
(Chairman Joint Chiefs)
Gen.Ashfaq Kayani
(Chief of Army Staff)
ACMTanvir Ahmad
(Chief of Air Staff)
Adm.Noman Bashir
(Chief of Naval Staff)
Adm.Asaf Humayun
(Commandant Marines)

After the2008 Mumbai attacks,[2][3]Pakistanand theISIwere believed byIndiato be directly responsible for the attacks, leading to strained relations between the two countries for a period of time. An Anti-Pakistani sentiment also rose in India, causing many, including the United States[1][4]to call for probes into it.

The standoff was significant because both the countries were nuclear nations, having first successfully testednuclear weaponsin1974and1998respectively. The countries had already participated in4 warssince theirpartitionand independence in 1947, andrelationsbetween the two nations have been strained throughout their histories. Thelone surviving terroristof the Mumbai attacks confirmed that the terrorists came from Pakistan, and that they were trained byLashkar-e-Taibaoperatives. In 2011, he also confessed that the ISI had been supporting them throughout the attacks.[3][5]

Event and preparations[edit]

Military preparations[edit]

The Mumbai attacks lasted from 26 to 29 November 2008. At a state lunch in Lahore on 7 December, theUS ArizonaSenatorJohn McCainrelayed a message from Indian Prime MinisterDr. Manmohan Singhto several of Pakistan's dignitaries, including Pakistan's Prime MinisterYousuf Raza Gilanithat if Pakistan did not arrest those involved with the attacks, India would begin aerial attacks against Pakistan.[1]

On 19 December, private intelligence agency,Stratfor,in its latest report, said, "Indian military operations against targets in Pakistan have in fact been prepared, and await the signal to go forward". They also wrote that, "Indian military preparations, unlike previous cases, will be carried out in stealth". India'sBorder Security Force(BSF) has been put on high alert on the western sector, as well as the eastern sector, to prevent terrorist infiltration.[6][7]

In mid December Indian fighter planes allegedly intruded Pakistan's air space at two places.[8]On 22 December, thePakistan Air Forcebegancombat air patrol(CAP) over several cities, including Islamabad, Lahore, and Rawalpindi, to avert any further air intrusion.[9][10]Pakistan's Foreign MinisterShah Mehmood Qureshisaid, "Pakistan defence forces and armed forces are ready to face any challenge, as Pakistan has the full right to defend itself". Pakistan PM Yousuf Raza Gilani said, "Pakistan remains united and is ready to fight anyone to defend itself".[11]Pakistani Defense Minister Ahmad Mukhtar Chaudhry said, "If India tried to thrust war, then the armed forces of Pakistan have all the potential and right to defend [Pakistan]".[12]

Escalations and back-door response[edit]

According to Pakistani media, India had started deploying troops along theRajasthanborder, and had tightened security in and around the defence airstrips. More radars and quick reaction teams were then deployed along the India-Pakistan border. Indian forces were on regular firing exercises at locations, like Lathi Firing Range inJaisalmer,Mahsan inBikaner,SuratgarhandGanganagar.[13]

On 23 December, Kamal Hyder, Al Jazeera's correspondent in Pakistan, wrote that the Pakistan "navy,marinesair forceandarmywere onred alert"and that" the chiefs of Pakistan'sarmed forcestogether with theChairman Joint Chiefswere holding what had been described as an emergency meeting atjoint headquartersin Rawalpindi ". He also wrote that" [t]he Pakistan air force have been seen visibly in a number of locations flying close to the Pakistani-India border, in what is being described as an aggressive patrolling mode, following reports that India is planning pre-emptive strikes against locations in Pakistan ". A Pakistan airforce spokesperson said" [i]n view of the current environment, thePakistan Air Forcehas enhanced its vigilance ".[14]Pakistan army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani, said that Pakistan would mount an equal response "within minutes", to any Indian attack.[15]Pakistan continued to combat air patrol over several cities.[16]

ThePakistan Air ForceF-16s in Action, Pakistan beganCombat Air Patrolover several cities

According to Indian sources theTalibanand affiliated groups openly declared their solidarity withPakistan.The bannedTehrik-e-Talibanhad proclaimed that they would send "thousands of (their) well-armedmilitants"to wagejihadagainstIndiaif war should break out. Hundreds of would-be bombers were equipped with suicide jackets and explosive-laden vehicles.[17]

On 24 December, P.K. Barbora, the air officer commanding-in-chief of Western Air Command, said "[t]he IAF has earmarked 5,000 targets in Pakistan. But whether we will cross the LoC or the International Border to hit the enemy targets will have to be decided by the political leadership of the country".[18]India Today reported that "Indian Air Force fighter planes are engaged in round the clock sorties. An unusual hectic activity of Indian Air Force has been visible along the border for past some days".[19]On the same day, Stratfor confirmed that "the state government of Rajasthan has ordered residents of its border villages to be prepared for relocation".[20]President Asif Ali Zardari said "We will defend the country till the last drop of our blood",[21]and "we will defend the country till our last breath".[22]Pakistan began deploying warplanes to forward air bases.[23]

All Mig-29s were put on high-alert and for New Delhi's air defence.

Diplomacy and neutralisation[edit]

On 25 December, however, the rulingUPA governmentin India played down apprehensions of an imminent military conflagration. The Indian Prime Minister made it clear that "nobody wanted war".[24]The Pakistan Air Force (PAF) played a subsequent role during this time and the Indian Air Force downplayed the sorties by PAF fighter jets, saying it was an air defence exercise.[25]However, R. C. Dhyani, DIG of Rajasthan frontier BSF, said, "[a] lot of military movement is being noticed in districts just across the international border for the last few days, which is not normal" and "Pakistan has deployed more troops across border".[26] TheChairman Senateof Pakistan, SenatorRaza Rabbani,said that any surgical strike into its territory would be taken as an act of war and would be repulsed with "full force",[27]and that "[e]ach and every inch of the country will be safeguarded".[28]India movedMiG-29stoHindon air base,located near New Delhi, in order "to protect the capital from aerial threats".[29]The Pakistani city of Mianwali began ablackout.[30]

Pakistan continued deployment, and moved the 10th Brigade to the outskirts ofLahore,and the 3rd Armored Brigade toJhelum.The 10th Infantry Division and the 11th Infantry Division had been placed on high alert.[31]The Indian Army deployed quick reaction teams (QRTs) along the border, which "precede the movement of bridging equipment – to cross canals in Punjab – and of heavy guns".[32]

Amir Mir ofDaily News and Analysiswrote that "Pakistan's military leadership has advised president Asif Ali Zardari to take back his statement made last month, that his country would not be the first to use nuclear weapons in the event of a conflict with India".[33]

On 26 December, Pakistan cancelled all military leave[34]and activated contacts with friendly countries and military partners.[35]Pakistan deployed troops to "protect vital points along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and the international border with India".[36][37]Pakistani Foreign Minister Quresh said that, "if war is imposed, we will respond to it like a brave, self-respecting nation".[38]Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh held a second meeting of the Nuclear Command Authority to "discuss all the options available to India".[39] Pakistan deployed the 14th Infantry Division to Kasur and Sialkot, close to the border.[40]India advised its citizens not to travel to Pakistan.[41]Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh met with the chiefs of the Indian air force, army, and navy.[42]

On 27 December, India's largest opposition party, theBharatiya Janata Party(BJP), called for all travel between India and Pakistan to be stopped, and for the recall of the Indian High Commissioner from Pakistan.[43]The Pakistani Army alerted retired army personnel to be ready to be called up to active duty.[44]On 28 December, Pakistan postponed all officer training courses.[45]

On 29 December, the leaders of the Indian and Pakistani armies spoke over theirred telephone,to avert an accidental nuclear war.[46]The President of the BJP,Rajnath Singh,called for a joint India-US military action against Pakistan.[47]John McCain said, "The Indians are on the verge of some kind of attack on Pakistan".[4]

On 30 December, Pakistani media stated: "The service chiefs of all of the branches of India's military were told to stay in the country in order to achieve 'complete readiness'. All units that are on exercises have been ordered to remain so indefinitely, and to indicate any equipment or ammunition they need".[48]However, this was not backed by Indian or international media.

Pakistani deployments[edit]

ThePakistan militaryhad cancelled all leave.[49]Elements of thePakistan Air Forcehad been deployed to front line bases.[23]The IV Corp, with 60,000 troops, has been deployed toLahore.[50]Pakistan had deployed the 3rd Armored Brigade toJhelum,and the 10th Infantry Brigade, with 5,000 troops, toLahore.[31]The 10th Division had been deployed toIchoguland the 11th Division had been deployed toTilla.ThePakistan Armycombat brigades had been deployed toKashmirand theJammusector of the border.[36]The 14th Division, with 20,000 troops, had been deployed toKasurandSialkot.[49]The ground forces were logistically and militarily supported by the Pakistan Navy'sPunjab contingentandPakistan Marinesforces on each side of Pakistan.[49]ThePakistan Navydeployed the sizeable unit of its surface fleet and submarines, includingPNSHamzaandPNSKhalid,to pick up to intelligence movements and positions of the Indian warships to prevent them to reach near Karachi and coastal areas of Balochistan.[49]

Indian deployments[edit]

India had put its Border Security Force, India's border patrol agency, on high alert.[51]MiG-29shad been deployed toHindonair base, to protect New Delhi. Later IAF sources claimed that the move was a result of intelligence inputs of an air attack on Delhi.[29]The Indian Navy had moved six warships, including theINSJalashwaand theINSRanveer,to the west coast.[52]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

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