International dimension of 1971 trauma

Thirty-seven years have passed since the traumatic events of 1971. Much has been written on the subject. Most analyses have been confined to the developments within the subcontinent. The break-up of Pakistan has generally been viewed in relation to a regional upheaval. Little attention has been paid to the international dimension of the momentous events in the subcontinent. A modest attempt will be made in the following paragraphs to remedy this lapse. One would hasten to clarify, though, that the intention is not at all to either under-rate or to minimize the importance of the internal upheaval of the epoch but merely to explore a dimension that has perhaps not been given the weightage that it deserved. The events of 1971 sent shock waves far and wide. They culminated in a thorough realignment of forces in Asia.