"India's political leadership failed to secure lasting strategic gains": Assam CM on 1971 military victory

Guhawati (Assam) [India] May 11 (ANI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday expressed concerns about India's handling of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War, questioning whether the country's political leadership fully capitalised on the strategic opportunities presented by the military victory. While the war resulted in the creation of Bangladesh, Sarma argued that India failed to secure lasting gains in several key areas.
In his X post, he said, "The Myth of Bangladesh's Creation: A Strategic Triumph, A Diplomatic Folly. India's 1971 military victory was decisive and historic. It broke Pakistan in two and gave birth to Bangladesh. But while our soldiers delivered a stunning battlefield success, India's political leadership failed to secure lasting strategic gains.The creation of Bangladesh is often hailed as a diplomatic triumph -- but history tells a different story."

The Myth of Bangladesh’s Creation: A Strategic Triumph, A Diplomatic Folly

India’s 1971 military victory was decisive and historic. It broke Pakistan in two and gave birth to Bangladesh. But while our soldiers delivered a stunning battlefield success, India’s political…

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 11, 2025

Sarma noted that while India supported a secular Bangladesh, the country has since become increasingly Islamised, with Islam being declared the state religion in 1988. This shift has undermined the values India fought to protect.
"Secular Promise, Islamic Reality: India supported a secular Bangladesh. Yet by 1988, Islam was declared the state religion. Today, political Islam thrives in Dhaka, undermining the very values India fought to protect," Sarma posted on X.
He highlighted significant decline in the Hindu population in Bangladesh, from 20% to under 8%, attributed to systematic discrimination and violence.
"Persecution of Hindus. Hindus, once 20% of Bangladesh's population, have dwindled to under 8%. Systematic discrimination and violence continue -- a shameful reality that India has largely ignored," the Assam CM said.
Sarma criticized the then Indian leadership for largely ignoring the vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor, migrant crisis, no access to Chittagong Port and insurgents finding refuge.
Despite military dominance, India failed to secure a land corridor through northern Bangladesh, leaving the Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) exposed and hindering the integration of the Northeast.
"The Chicken's Neck Left Exposed Despite military dominance, India failed to resolve the vulnerability of the Siliguri Corridor. A secure land corridor through northern Bangladesh could have integrated the Northeast -- but no such arrangement was ever pursued," he said on X.
The lack of an agreement mandating the return of illegal Bangladeshi migrants has led to unchecked demographic changes in Assam, Bengal, and the Northeast, sparking social unrest and political instability.
"Migrant Crisis Ignored. No agreement mandated the return of illegal Bangladeshi migrants. As a result, Assam, Bengal, and the Northeast face unchecked demographic change, sparking social unrest and political instability," added Sarma.
India did not secure access to the strategic Chittagong Port, leaving the Northeast landlocked and limiting its economic potential. Moreover, Bangladesh served as a base for anti-India insurgents, exploiting the vacuum India failed to close in 1971.
"No Access to Chittagong Port India did not secure access to the strategic Chittagong Port. Five decades later, the Northeast remains landlocked, despite having birthed a nation through blood and sacrifice. Insurgents Found Refuge For decades, Bangladesh served as a base for anti-India insurgents. Groups exploited the vacuum India failed to close in 1971," said the Assam CM.
Sarma concluded that India's military triumph in 1971 was not matched by strategic foresight, resulting in a lost opportunity to shape a new regional order. He suggested that the creation of Bangladesh was not fully leveraged to India's advantage, with the country's political leadership failing to secure lasting gains in key areas. He added that had former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi been alive today, the nation would have questioned her for mishandling the victory won by the armed forces.
"Conclusion: A Victory Undone by Silence India's military triumph in 1971 was not matched by strategic foresight. What could have been a new regional order was reduced to a one-sided act of generosity. Had Mrs. Indira Gandhi been alive today, the nation would have questioned her for mishandling the decisive victory won by our armed forces. The creation of Bangladesh was not a bargain -- it was a historic opportunity lost," he said. (ANI)