A tale of India's battle of two Chicken Necks
1.Chicken’s Neck/Akhnoor Dagger in Jammu and Kashmir·
- India surrounds Pakistan from three sides at the 'Chicken Neck' area, which Pakistan terms as 'Dagger'. Pakistan uses the name to suggest that its land extending into the Indian territory is like a dagger in India's heart. On the other hand, India calls it the chicken’s neck suggesting that it is a weak neck (of Pakistan) that can be twisted anytime.
- This narrow strip in Akhnoor region an islet between the Chenab river and one of its subsidiary channels protruded into Indian territory is close to Pakistani cantonments in Sialkot giving them a clear military advantage and has been focal point in all wars.
- During 1965 war Pakistan wanted to attack through this corridor to cut off J&K from mainland India through Operation Grand Slam but that did not happen due to India's preparedness in the area.
2. Siliguri Corridor
- This corridor is squeezed between Bangladesh in the south and China in the north,Nepal and Bhutan which connects mainland India to North east of the India which is its geographical curse·
- The narrowest width is 17 km on which one side is China in the north, Bangladesh in south,Nepal and Bhutan.
- China came close to attacking this corridor in 1965 when it issued an ultimatum to vacate Nathula pass and India under pressure decided to withdraw its troops.
- But Lieutenant General Sagat Singh, the division commander in Sikkim knew its importance for corridor disagreed with his senior commanders and did not vacate Nathu La. Finally China was defeated during skirmishes in Nathula in 1967.
- Doklam standoff happened when China wanted to build road in Bhutanese territory in Doklam very close to Siligui corridor in 2017.
- This corridor shows India's vulnerability in North east being a landlocked portion.All the roads and train to North east pass through this corridor.
- Now India has started projects to connect North eastern states under Look east policy with Bangladesh and Myanmar for connectivity using land,rail and sea.
After 1965 war with Pakistan and skirmishes in Nathula till 1967,India has always safeguarded these two chicken necks.
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Edits
I have replaced the map of Chicken’s neck/Akhnoor Dagger In J&K and more facts are added.
Image Sources
Google Imgaes
https://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20131208/pers.htm
·References
Behind China's Sikkim aggression, a plan to isolate Northeast from rest of India
·A tale of two ‘Chicken’s Necks’: How India’s armed forces kept Pakistan and China at bay
Operation Juniper — inside story of how Indian Army pushed China back from Doklam