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As tensions between India & China rise at border, its pertinent to recall the 1962 Indo-China war that India lost under the Prime Ministership of Jawaharlal Nehru
Did you know? Nehru wrote secret letters seeking help from USA.
We reveal the contents of those letters here (1/n)
Did you know? Nehru wrote secret letters seeking help from USA.
We reveal the contents of those letters here (1/n)
For years successive Congress govts denied the existence of these letters
They were written by Nehru on the 16th & 19th of November, 1962
The existence of these 2 letters, especially the second one, was not made public at the time. These letters came to fore only recently (2/n)
They were written by Nehru on the 16th & 19th of November, 1962
The existence of these 2 letters, especially the second one, was not made public at the time. These letters came to fore only recently (2/n)
Nehru described how the Chinese were in possession of the greater part of NEFA & were poised to overrun Chushul in Ladakh
"There is nothing to stop them till they reach Leh..." wrote Nehru sounding rather helpless at the hands of the Chinese
#IndiaChinaFaceOff #chinaindiaborder
"There is nothing to stop them till they reach Leh..." wrote Nehru sounding rather helpless at the hands of the Chinese
#IndiaChinaFaceOff #chinaindiaborder
Coming to the point, Nehru pleaded US President Kennedy to supply "air transport & jet fighters" to fight the Chinese
Nehru was asking Kennedy to wage a war against China by partnering in an air war, a decade after America had reached ceasefire with Chinese forces in Korea
Nehru was asking Kennedy to wage a war against China by partnering in an air war, a decade after America had reached ceasefire with Chinese forces in Korea
American ambassador Galbraith needed to buy time before Kennedy could consider Nehru's momentous ask!
He responded to Nehru's 1st letter
"Indian mood is desperate and the situation indeed grim" wrote Galbraith
He urged Nehru not to start any air strikes prematurely
He responded to Nehru's 1st letter
"Indian mood is desperate and the situation indeed grim" wrote Galbraith
He urged Nehru not to start any air strikes prematurely
Nehru's 2nd letter reached Washington on the evening of November 19
He feared "Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland would also pass into Chinese hands"
Nehru sought America's help & any delay would prove to be "a catastrophe" for India as per him
#IndiaChinaFaceOff #Nehru
He feared "Assam, Tripura, Manipur and Nagaland would also pass into Chinese hands"
Nehru sought America's help & any delay would prove to be "a catastrophe" for India as per him
#IndiaChinaFaceOff #Nehru
In this 2nd letter Nehru was asking Kennedy for 350 combat aircraft & crews
12 squadrons of fighter aircraft with 24 jets in each & 2 bomber squadrons
At least 10,000 American personnel to staff & operate the jets, provide radar support & conduct logistical support
#Nehru
12 squadrons of fighter aircraft with 24 jets in each & 2 bomber squadrons
At least 10,000 American personnel to staff & operate the jets, provide radar support & conduct logistical support
#Nehru
Nehru assured Kennedy that US help wouldn't be used against Pakistan & promised a copy of letter sent to President Ayub Khan of Pakistan
Nehru also pressed that "Chinese threat" was not merely a matter of "survival of India" but of other free & independent govts in Asia as well
Nehru also pressed that "Chinese threat" was not merely a matter of "survival of India" but of other free & independent govts in Asia as well
What happened next is history
Instead of diplomatically confronting China Nehru remained silent & set up the ‘forward policy’ of creating military posts at posts that China considered its territory
India lost Sino-Indian war of 1962 owing to Nehru's tactical military blunders
Instead of diplomatically confronting China Nehru remained silent & set up the ‘forward policy’ of creating military posts at posts that China considered its territory
India lost Sino-Indian war of 1962 owing to Nehru's tactical military blunders
