India regarded Pak as ‘strategic buffer’ against USSR during the Afghan war

**n21** · 10 Jun 16,, 19:26

Contradicting perceived proximity to the Soviet Union in the Cold War era, India under the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had toyed with the idea of supporting anti-Russian civilian groups in Pakistan if the then Zia regime was thrown out by Moscow, a recent declassified CIA document has claimed.

“New Delhi regards Pakistan as a strategic buffer against the USSR and would oppose Moscow’s effort to dominate Pakistan. New Delhi and Moscow would find themselves supporting rival factions within Pakistan,” said the report, according to which Moscow had plans to change the regime in Pakistan and extend its influence beyond Afghanistan.

Six months later when Gandhi was planning to meet General Zia on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting in New York, the CIA analyzed that the then Indian Prime Minister, despite his strong public views on Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program, was unlikely to push him hard on it.

http://indianexpress.com/article/ind...t-ussr-report/

One explanation why we Indians "like" Pakistan.

**Double Edge** · 25 Jun 16,, 00:39

Rajiv Gandhi had toyed with the idea of supporting anti-Russian civilian groups in Pakistan if the then Zia regime was thrown out by Moscow,

While taking note of the historic India-USSR relationship in particular in the defence field, the CIA report of April 1985 noted that India is likely to become increasingly concerned about long-range Soviet intentions in the region and could find itself moving towards confrontation with the Soviets if Pakistan was effectively neutralised.

Did Moscow have any plans to go south of the Afghan border ? They were called in to support their satellite state. Once that was done they quit, its only when they started having trouble with finances in the 90s that Najibullah got into trouble.

The report is predicated on IF the soviets wanted to move south and does not offer anything more.

Wonder if the soviet archives of the era have been declassfied as well. Would make for an interesting counter point. Straight form the horse's mouth.

**Officer of Engineers** · 25 Jun 16,, 00:55

Originally Posted by Double Edge

Wonder if the soviet archives of the era have been declassfied as well. Would make for an interesting counter point. Straight form the horse's mouth.

The intent of going into Afghanistan was to prop up the Afghan communists or they have another Iranian Revolution on their borders. There was never really a desire for a warm water port.

**Double Edge** · 25 Jun 16,, 16:16

Originally Posted by Officer of Engineers

The intent of going into Afghanistan was to prop up the Afghan communists or they have another Iranian Revolution on their borders. There was never really a desire for a warm water port.

Heard there was a doc on the BBC recently that spoke about how that 'revolution' could have been prevented.

It only picked up steam towards the end of '78. The Shah was losing the plot earlier, could have been propped up. Iran was the most important US ally in the Gulf. More important even than peace with Israel. To the point where Camp David is chump change in comparison to the loss of Iran.

How different things could have been.....