Dhanaraj thanked the group for their attention and returned to his seat.
The Defense Minister took his place. “Thank you, General.” He paused, hands on hips. “Well, I needn’t remind you, gentlemen, of the serious threat posed by Pakistan’s detonation of a nuclear device. It is the government’s opinion that only an extremely swift and decisive victory in the field can end this campaign before Islamabad resolves to use such weapons against us.”
Ramesh nodded. This was certainly the real reason the Defense Minister was here. The government was worried about Pakistan’s bomb.
“Based on our own experience with atomic weapons, Intelligence believes that the Pakistanis have not yet succeeded in assembling nuclear warheads small enough to deliver as bombs, but their technicians are certain to be working on the problem.
“In addition, the government wishes to emphasize that growing pressure in the world community is working against us. Sooner or later, the UN will move to force an end to hostilities in this region. We must achieve our territorial and political goals first. We therefore have two reasons to see this affair through to a swift conclusion.
“Everything, everything depends on a rapid and successful drive to Karachi. With the country’s major port in our hands, the Pakistanis will be cut off from outside aid and forced to capitulate. While we are taking seriously their threats to use nuclear weapons as a last resort, it is our considered opinion that they will refrain from doing so, at least for the time being. Use of such weapons would create a bad image for them in the world at large and could jeopardize their trade relationship with the United States. Nor will they be eager to detonate nuclear weapons on their own soil. We must beat them before they decide that such consequences are less important than their own survival, that, in fact, their very survival is at stake. We cannot afford to have our attacks become stalled or slowed by unexpected resistance.
“And this, my friends, brings us to the principal subject of our meeting today. The Americans.”
Ramesh leaned forward, suddenly intent. What was the government going to do about the American threat?
“I need not remind you, gentlemen,” Sundarji continued, “of American interference in this region during our war with Pakistan in 1971. At that time they stationed another of their nuclear carriers, the Enterprise, in the Bay of Bengal. This was a constant threat we could not ignore throughout our operations in Bangladesh.
“Since that time, they have commissioned their installation at Diego Garcia, stationed carrier battle groups in the Arabian Sea, and organized their rapid-deployment force for intervention in our part of the world. Now they have positioned a nuclear carrier battle group only a hundred miles from our shores. With their in-flight refueling capabilities, they are within easy range of Operation Cobra’s supply lines. They can interdict our activities anywhere from Bombay to Baluchistan.
“The government is concerned that the Americans might interfere with our naval blockade of Pakistan, sever our supply lines with the Persian Gulf, or both. In the event of hostilities, our supply lines across the Thar Desert would be especially vulnerable.
“If we are to have a free hand in our operation in Pakistan, the American threat in our waters must be eliminated.”
Rear Admiral Ramesh stirred in his seat, then raised a hand. The Defense Minister looked down at him with owlish eyes. “Admiral?”
“Your pardon, sir … but does this mean we are declaring war against the Americans?” He felt a fierce, inner surge of emotion. The events of the past days seemed to have gone beyond any one government’s control, an explosion of encounters, blunders, and headlong stumbles toward the abyss of war. Was the Prime Minister actually choosing to ride events toward what seemed to be their predestined end … to take control and anticipate that war?
The minister frowned. “There will be no formal declaration, Admiral, no. But India will take action to guarantee her own sovereignty.”
Ramesh was confused. “Sir?”
“Success in Pakistan, and our own security, demand that we force the United States … and all other extraterritorial powers … to recognize our claims to the Arabian Sea and abandon military control of the Indian Ocean basin to us. Our requests before the UN Security Council have been rebuffed. This, then, leaves us with but a single course of action.
“Yesterday, as you all know, a maritime attack squadron, supported by one of our Mig-29 fighter units, struck elements of the American carrier force off Bombay. Our intelligence indicates that at least three U.S. planes were shot down in the engagement.”
Ramesh pursed his lips. He knew better than to accept such figures at face value. He wondered what the kill figures really were, and how many IAF planes had been lost.
“The action of last night is being hailed as a major triumph. However, our leaders fear that American resolve has only hardened at this point.
Their government stresses the concept of ‘freedom of the seas,” which can be interpreted as their perceived right to continue to operate in our waters.
“Furthermore, the Commonwealth of Independent States has now joined the Americans. A Russian nuclear carrier group is expected to rendezvous with the Americans by mid-afternoon.”
Sundarji raised his hand and snapped his fingers, gesturing. A civilian aide began going around the table, passing out slender folders to each military man present. Ramesh accepted his and opened it, removing the sheaf of papers inside. Written in English, as were all such documents in India, and stamped TOP SECRET across each page, it appeared to be a general directive entitled Operation Python. Cobra, Krait, and Python, Ramesh thought. New Delhi seemed entranced by the ideas of using snakes for code words this week.
“The government has decided that only one response on our part can be direct enough, sharp enough to discourage foreign intentions in the Arabian Sea,” the minister continued as the military men read the orders. “The Political Affairs Committee has asked me to submit these plans to you this afternoon. We believe that enough ships and planes can be diverted from current operations to deliver a single, crushing blow to the joint American-Soviet battle fleet. Ideally, this should be carried out before the Russians and the Americans have a chance to work together, in order to maximize confusion.
“Their aircraft carriers, of course, will be the primary targets.
Destroy them, or simply damage their flight decks enough to prevent air launches or recoveries, and both squadrons will be largely useless. The foreign fleets will be forced to withdraw.
“New Delhi anticipates a strong reaction, of course, but by that time our objectives in Pakistan should be achieved. We can negotiate with Moscow and Washington over reparations or whatever is necessary, but …” He raised a forefinger, stressing the word. “But … our goals will have been achieved. Victory in Pakistan, and an end to foreign intervention in our ocean.”
A rising murmur filled the room as generals and admirals scanned through the orders. “Excellency,” General Bakaya said. “These call for stripping the Pakistan front of many of our best aircraft squadrons!”
Sundarji nodded. “Temporarily, yes. It is the government’s belief that for this operation we can muster between two and three hundred aircraft, approximately a third of our total IAF assets. The strike force will include long-range bombers, cruise missiles, and multi-wave strikes by attack planes armed with Exocets, as well as our maritime aircraft operating off of Viraat and Vikrant. Losses should not be higher than ten percent, which leaves adequate forces to return to the Pakistan front.”
Admiral Karananidhi stood, shaking the papers in his fist. “This is insane! You are saying we must abandon our blockade of Karachi!”
The murmurs grew louder. “I must protest,” another officer in the back shouted. “This could stall the entire offensive!”
Sundarji raised his voice. “I must emphasize … Gentlemen, if you please! I must emphasize that this redeployment is for the short term only! Admiral Karananidhi, you are correct. The fleet assembled for the blockade of Karachi is to be diverted to support the attack on the Soviet-American forces. But the strike is expected to take less than four hours altogether and can be accomplished while your ships are enroute to the Pakistan coast. The aircraft deployed for this exercise are those already in place within range of the targets. The delay will be minimal! And in exchange …” He spread his hands. “One lightning blow to cripple foreign air operations in the Arabian Sea! A strong message to the world that India is the master of her own destiny, her own ocean! A demonstration to
