Indian Army makes it a throwback Tuesday; Recalls US' arms supply to Pakistan before 1971 war

The Indian Army on Tuesday hit back at the United States by resurfacing a 1971 newspaper clipping detailing how Washington had supplied over $2 billion worth of arms to Pakistan over two decades, a move seen as a subtle response to America’s renewed push for oil cooperation with Islamabad.

The archival post, shared by the Eastern Command under its “This Day That Year” series, highlighted that between 1954 and 1971, the U.S. had provided Pakistan with fighter aircraft, missiles, tanks, submarines, and artillery.

The clipping showed then Defence Production Minister V C Shukla informing Parliament that the U.S. had armed Pakistan “at throw-away prices,” even after the 1971 crackdown in East Pakistan.


The post came hours after U.S. officials expressed interest in developing Pakistan’s oil sector, signalling a fresh phase in their bilateral economic ties. Last month, Asim Munir, Pakistani Field Marshal, had also paid a visit to US President Trump.


The timing of the Army’s archival post shows Washington’s past military alignment with Islamabad.

“China and America have supplied arms to Pakistan at concessional rates or throw-away prices,” Shukla had said in the Rajya Sabha, according to the newspaper. “Pakistan continues to receive arms support even after its repressive operations in East Bengal.”

In the same 1971 clipping, it was reported that then Pakistan President Yahya Khan warned of war if any “aggression” occurred in East Pakistan. The statement was made just months before the Indo-Pak war broke out in December that year, leading to the creation of Bangladesh.

The U.S. energy cooperation announcement comes at a time when Trump is targetting India for its oil buys from Russia.