apophenia
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Apparently Russia did have an ulterior motive in engaging in the 71 conflict..excerpts from the RUSSIAN PACIFIC FLEET
 
 
The first major appearance of Soviet sea power in the Indian Ocean came in 1971 during the war between India and Pakistan. That was the first opportunity taken by the Soviet Government to demonstrate its willingness to influence major events in the area by the use of military power. During that crisis, SOVPAC deployed two task groups, comprising the cruisers Varyag and Vladivostok, the destroyers Vozbuzhdenny and the Strogiy, six submarines (including two SSGNs), plus a number of support vessels.167 A group of
Il-38 ASW aircraft based at the Aden air base in Yemen provided support.168 The initial mission of these forces was to monitor the activities of the RN (the carrier HMS Eagle, the commando carrier HMS Albion, several destroyers and other ships).169 After the
British force left the region, Soviet attention turned to USN Task Force 74, headed by the USS Enterprise. Since the Soviet Government seriously considered US intervention against India a possibility, Soviet task groups in the Indian Ocean were given orders
to deter the Americans from engaging in the conflict by shadowing their activities and demonstrating aggressive intent. This demonstration of increased naval strength in the Pacific created a force multiplier effect for the Soviet Union. Throughout the 1971 war
the US naval forces remained largely uninvolved in the conflict, while Soviet-Indian relations further strengthened, particularly in the security sphere. Adding to that, the USSR was able to increase its political influence in India.
After the end of the conflict between India and Pakistan, the Soviet Navy participated in port-clearing operations in Bangladesh, where a 22-ship strong force commenced operations in April 1972. While the main objective of this action, gaining political influence in the country, was not achieved, it showed the capacity of the Soviet Navy to use non-coercive methods while employing naval power in influence-building activities.