How close was India to taking punitive military action against Pakistan?
On the very brink and twice. Once, in the first flush of deployment around January 7, 2002 when Pakistani troops were still off balance. But GeneralMusharraf’s January 12 speech of partial compliance resulted in the postponement ofD-Day. The US played a key role in getting more time for Musharraf. Infiltration dropped noticeably. Then Kaluchak happened in May and a new D-Day was selected — 15 June. AtUS prodding Musharraf made his May 27 speech reaffirming compliance. Once again operational plans were deferred. But now the window for war had also closed. It would reopen only after the monsoon in September-October when elections were held in Jammu and Kashmir. What were the other reasons for India not going to war? The US figures high on this list. The presence of US soldiers and airmen in Pakistani air bases and its naval armada in the Arabian Sea, fighting the war in Afghanistan. The Indian Navy had to be limited in its deployment up to 72 degrees longitude to ensure separation of fo
