Indian Post-Independence Economic Miracle as told in NYT articles

Afghanistan is allied with India and has many Indian military bases.
But how do these Afghan bases get resupplied when it's a landlocked country? Airlift even over a Pakistan that can't oppose it is extremely expensive. Even NATO has to rely on Russian road and rail networks to supply their troops, which are only there as glorified policeman. It's simply logistically impossible for India to deploy so much forces in northern Afghankstan to credibly threaten the Soviets.
 
If troops are deployed abroad, it will be in coordination with the United Nations.
If India is the dominant military power, it could easily flex its muscles to intervene as it chooses, and then later seek a UN resolution legalizing it. It's exactly how the UN is already used (see Libya).
 
But how do these Afghan bases get resupplied when it's a landlocked country? Airlift even over a Pakistan that can't oppose it is extremely expensive. Even NATO has to rely on Russian road and rail networks to supply their troops, which are only there as glorified policeman. It's simply logistically impossible for India to deploy so much forces in northern Afghankstan to credibly threaten the Soviets.

I think it's safe to assume that India owns all of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan in this timeline. That gives them a direct land border with Afghanistan via the Wakhan Corridor.

Although the terrain is tough, the Irshad Pass connects the two territories. So, yes, India can absolutely support and supply a massive military buildup in Afghanistan, though the Wakhan Corridor would be very very heavily fortified as it is a natural choke point.

Funny enough, we do have a similar strategic choke point, but in the East. The Siliguri Corridor OTL is the only land connection India has to the Northeast. So TTL India has two narrow, strategic choke points.
 
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kernals12

Banned
I think it's safe to assume that India owns all of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan in this timeline. That gives them a direct land border with Afghanistan via the Wakhan Corridor.

Although the terrain is tough, the Irshad Pass connects the two territories. So, yes, India can absolutely support and supply a massive military buildup in Afghanistan, though the Wakhan Corridor would be very very heavily fortified as it is a natural choke point.

Funny enough, we do have a similar strategic choke point, but in the East. The Siliguri Corridor OTL is the only land connection India has to the Northeast. So TTL India has two narrow, strategic choke points.
Let's go with that (eyes darting)
 
I think it's safe to assume that India owns all of Jammu and Kashmir, including Gilgit-Baltistan in this timeline. That gives them a direct land border with Afghanistan via the Wakhan Corridor.

Although the terrain is tough, the Irshad Pass connects the two territories. So, yes, India can absolutely support and supply a massive military buildup in Afghanistan, though the Wakhan Corridor would be very very heavily fortified as it is a natural choke point.

Funny enough, we do have a similar strategic choke point, but in the East. The Siliguri Corridor OTL is the only land connection India has to the Northeast. So TTL India has two narrow, strategic choke points.
Nothing in this timeline indicates there was a war with Pakistan where India gained all of Kashmir. If there was any war, then the Indian government would have prioritized a military buildup on its own territory, leading to the neglect of economic development.

Even if the Indians did control a corridor, it could not credibly threaten the Soviets. The Soviets will have multiple railways across a flat plain connecting their frontline with their hinterland, with its fourth largest city and major industrial hub Tashkent less than 600 km away by road or rail. The Soviets have already developed a network of oilfields, refineries, and pipelines which guarantee a constant stream of fuel for their requirements. Delhi will be 1700 km away from Kunduz, and that's assuming their corridor isn't harassed by the Soviets or Pakistanis. For over 150 km, the corridor will be literally across the river from Soviet Tajikistan. The corridor will not consist of more than one two-lane road, which is also vulnerable to many natural disasters (flood, landslide, snowstorm, earthquake). Of course it's possible for India to invest in a four-lane highway, a railway, and a pipeline. But that would take at least 10 years even working at a China-like speed (using China's own projects in Tibet as a benchmark) and so much money for such marginal benefit (since the Hindu Kush is already a perfect natural barrier) that this isn't worth the cost.

And then whatever Indian forces are deployed will be facing the enemy back to a mountain range whose name calls for their death. The only worse way one can start a war is by invading Russia in November.

Finally, it's completely out of character for the Soviets to announce their strategic military moves in public. They might allow their moves to be picked up by NATO satellites, but NATO analysts will spend weeks wondering whether this real or a ruse.
 
1959 Indo-Pakistani War

kernals12

Banned
December 12, 1958
New Delhi Reiterates Sovereignty over Kashmir

Indian Prime Minister Rajaji, in a speech to the Lok Sobbha once again stated his government's position that India has control over the Jammu and Kashmir regions in the north. Since independence and partition in 1947, both India and Pakistan have claimed control over the region. India has cited a 1947 document from the ruler what was then a Princely state to the Colonial Administrator of India, Lord Mountbatten. Pakistan has cited the provinces' majority muslim populations as proof that they should control the region. As of now, India is in de facto control of 40% of the area.

January 3, 1959
PAKISTANI FRIGATE SINKS INDIAN DESTROYER

At approximately 4:00 PM New Delhi time, in the water border region between India and West Pakistan, the Pakistani Frigate PNS Shamsher opened fire on the Indian INS Ranjit. By 4:14, the Indian ship began sinking. The sailors on board were rescued and taken prisoner. Pakistani President Ayub Khan has forcefully claimed that the Indian ship was in Pakistani waters and they were right to attack. Indian Prime Minister Rajaji has called it a "reckless act of aggression".

January 4
Eisenhower Calls for Peace In India, Anti-Pakistani Protests In Mumbai

President Eisenhower plead for calm between India and Pakistan after the Pakistani Navy sunk an Indian ship, saying "I hope that these two nations may diplomatically resolve their differences. A war between these nations would be a great threat to world peace".
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In Mumbai, resident held rallies protesting yesterday's sinking. They chanted "Death to Pakistan!" and "Kashmir is ours" for several hours. 5 people were injured in clashes with police.

January 6
Pakistan Offers to Give Back Imprisoned Sailors in Exchange for India Admitting Wrongdoing.

Pakistani President Ayub Khan said he would be willing to release the captured Indian sailers from the sunken INS Ranjit if New Delhi was willing to admit they were at fault for encroaching in Pakistani territory. "We will release these men to their homes once Mr. Rajaji can admit that they were responsible for invading our territory" he said in a statement.

January 7
INDIA REFUSES PAKISTAN'S OFFER, EXPELS PAKISTANI DIPLOMATS, RECALLS AMBASSADOR

India has refused Islamabad's offer to give back the captured sailors from the INS Ranjut in exchange for admitting wrongdoing. Indian Foreign Minister Jawaharal Nehru said "We will not give in to this blackmail. The Pakistanis illegally fired on one of our ships in international waters. We will not give in". India also expelled 6 Pakistani diplomats and the recall of its ambassador to Pakistan.

January 14
ROGUE PAKISTANI COMMANDOS OPEN FIRE ON INDIAN BORDER POST

At 3 AM New Delhi time, a group of Pakistani commandos fired their weapons at a border post southwest of the city of Jammu in the disputed region of Kashmir. 4 Indian guards are reported dead and India has accused Pakistan of inciting violence. Pakistan has apologized for the deaths and said that they had nothing to do with the incident.

January 22
INDIA SEALS OFF EAST PAKISTANI BORDERS

India has declared a blockade of East Pakistan. All land routes into the isolated exclave of Pakistan have been closed off, the coastline is being patrolled by the Indian navy, all telephone connections have been cut, and they have threatened to shoot down any plane flying between the two parts of Pakistan. This marks the latest escalation in the crisis between India and Pakistan that began 3 weeks ago when an Indian Frigate was sunk by Pakistan's navy.

January 23
PAKISTAN IMPOSES DEADLINE ON INDIA TO END BLOCKADE

Pakistan's government declared that if India doesn't end their blockade of East Pakistan by Midnight January 26, it will be declared an act of war. In a statement, they said "This latest act of unprovoked and dangerous aggression is a direct threat to the people of the East who are now cut off from vital supplies of fuel and food and can't speak to their loved ones. If it is not lifted within 3 days, we will have no choice but to declare this to be an act of war"

January 24
UN EMERGENCY SESSION HELD, WAR SEEMS INEVITABLE

The UN was called in today for an emergency session regarding the Indo-Pakistani Crisis. Diplomats from virtually all countries encouraged both nations to back down. As it stands, on Midnight January 26, Pakistan will be in a state of war with India unless if the latter nation ends its blockade on East Pakistan, which seems unlikely. Both countries are being put on a war footing. Soldiers are on their highest alert stage with aircraft fueled and ready to take off within 90 seconds, civil defense pamphlets are being passed around in cities, and schools are being closed.

January 26
WAR BEGINS, PAKISTANI ARMY CHARGES INDIAN BORDER, INDIAN AIR RAIDS STRIKE STRATEGIC TARGETS

At precisely midnight, war broke out between India and Pakistan. Pakistani soldiers attempted to charge Eastern India's border. They succeeded in advancing 2 miles into Indian territory in the Meghalaya territory. At the same time, India's Air Force launched attacks on strategic targets, hitting 2 army outposts and an oil supply depot.

February 14
INDIA BREAKS THROUGH PAKISTANI LINES

An ambitious offensive by India's army succeeded in breaking through Pakistan's lines in the North. They are now 15 miles from the capitol of Islamabad and advancing rapidly.

February 15
PAKISTANI GOVERNMENT EVACUATES ISLAMABAD FOR KARACHI

With the Indian army rapidly advancing towards Islamabad, the Pakistani government has been forced to evacuate for Karachi in the south, Pakistan's largest city.

February 17
KARACHI FALLS

India succeeded in taking the Pakistani city of Islamabad, a major population and industrial center and capital until 2 days ago when it was moved to Karachi.

March 3
INDIAN ARMY MAKES IT TO SUBURBS OF KARACHI

India's army is now on the outskirts of the Pakistani city of Karachi, currently the provisional capitol. Pakistan's situation is increasingly hopeless.

March 5
PAKISTAN SURRENDERS, AGREES TO CEDE JAMMU AND KASHMIR

After 6 weeks of war, India and Pakistan have made peace. The peace treaty involves ceding all of the disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir to India and the withdrawal of all Indian troops by January 1, 1960. Indian Prime Minister Rajaji called the treaty "A great victory that brings an end to a bloody war".
 
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