The Mysterious North

"North always has an aura of mystery around it". It is not amazing that Indian Army troops positioned on the Northern Border of East Pakistan in the 1971 war were the first to enter Dhaka. North has been a privileged direction for the invader and most troublesome for a defender in the history of warfare.

In the Second World War (1939-1945), the Allies had been operational and victorious in the Mediterranean theatre. They were well-positioned to launch an attack from the southern France but it was not attempted and attack was planned from the "Privilged North" direction.

Historically, the Northern border has remained a security concern for many nations around the world. France faced invasions coming down its Northern border and had to build the famous "Maginot Line" to defend the Northern border. China had to build "Great Wall" to protect itself from the Northern invaders of Mongolia. The Romans had a lot of trouble in the Northern Britain (the Scotland) and had to build the famous "Hadrian's Wall" to protect themselves from the Northern tribes.

Ancient India always feared and faced invasions from the Northern border (with Afghanistan) through Khyber Pass. Afghanistan itself faced troubles with Russia on its own Northern Border. Europe faced barbarian invasions from the North, the famous "Vikings" of Scandinavia.

Turkey fought several wars on its Northern Border with Russia in the Caucasus. Iran has had troubles on its Northern Border. Modern India has security problems on its Northern border with China. Pakistan too has security concerns over its Northern border. Whats this mystery of the North?

A study of the conflicts in the South Asia, especially India-Pakistan, would reveal that India mostly occupied the Northern side and launched its offensives in the North-South direction.

In the Siachen Glacier theater, if we look at the Actual Ground Position Line (AGPL), it can be seen that Indian Army occupies the Northern Part and it has been impossible to take control of this area for Pakistan.

It was the same for the 1947-1948 Kashmir war. Pakistani offensive coming from the South did not completey succeed in taking the whole valley. Indian Army launched its offensive from the North and did take considerable portion of the valley.

Even in the 1999 Kargil conflict, it seemed that Indian offensive would come in a South-North direction to re-occupy Kargil but it did not happen. Indian Army started an offensive in the North-South direction (for cutting the supply routes first) in the Batalik sector. What happened then is known to everybody.

It is not implied here that merely choosing the North would guarantee success but it is kind of a supernatural and mysterious factor.