[War] India: Salvaging Lebanon

[Daniel Garcia]

"India:  Salvaging Lebanon"
President Ashwini Kanchwala, Republic of India
July 20, 2006

Ashwin had had a busy morning, but now was in his office, alone for  
the time being, though he had a meeting with his Minister for  
External Affairs, as well as the commanding officers of the three  
branches of the armed forces.  But for now, it was time for a phone  
call.

"Mr. President," the voice on the phone said, after waiting for it  
ring, "Ambassador Tarit is on the line now."

"Thank you," Ashwin said, and waited for the transfer.

"Mr. President," the new voice said, with a tinge of amusement.  "How  
are you?"

"I've had better weeks, Deep," Ashwin said to his old friend.  They  
had met and become friends during Ashwin's time in India's foreign  
service.  Deep was now the Ambassador to Jordan.

"So, what can I do for you," Deep asked, knowing full well this was a  
business call.

"I need to ask you a favor," Ashwin said.  "You're obviously aware of  
the situation next door to where you are.  I need you to go around  
the block, as my personal envoy, and try to make some diplomatic  
inroads."

Ashwin's request was a bit unusual.  It was clear that he wanted to  
talk with the various parties through someone higher than the various  
Ambassadors.  But Deep was at somewhat of a loss as to how sending an  
Ambassador from a different country completely was a step up.  Ashwin  
sensed quickly his old friend's confusion.

"Deep, right now the government is in a kind of flux.  The cabinet  
has only been in place for something just over a week, and will  
probably be gone in another week after the elections.  It's a  
political cabinet, and a caretaker cabinet.  I need someone with  
experience, and someone I can trust to speak for me," Ashwin said,  
pointing out his problem.

"I understand," Deep replied.  "So, what do you want me to do?"

"I want you to stop through Syria, Lebanon, and Israel and try an  
nudge them towards an end to this conflict.  In the case of Syria,  
you should try to get them to pressure Hezbollah into a cease fire.   
In Lebanon, though the government is weak, talk to who you can and do  
what you can," Ashwin said.  He left this part open.  This was partly  
because there wasn't a whole lot to say, and partly because what he  
meant to say was very delicate, the insinuation being that if he ran  
into a representative of Hezbollah, he should use the opportunity.

"I understand," Deep said in such a way to signal his understanding.

"Good," Ashwin said.  "I'll have a letter from me waiting at our  
embassy in each nation explaining your task and your role as my  
personal envoy."

"Alright," Deep said, sensing the end to the conversation.  "I'll do  
what I can."

"I know, and good luck," Ashwin said.

"Thanks, I'll need it," Deep said before hanging up.

Well, Ashwin thought, that was one part done.  Now he had to go deal  
with the rest.  Looking at the clock, however, he realized he had  
five minutes until his next meeting, and decided to just wander  
through the halls of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.  He hadn't really had a  
chance to appreciate it yet, so he took the opportunity.

"Hello, everybody," Ashwin said, walking into the room where his next  
meeting was right on time.  The three soldiers in the room stood and  
saluted, while the Minister of External Affairs just bowed slightly.   
Ashwin waved the generals and admiral down and sat down himself.

"Shri Bahl," Ashwin addressed the Minister, "I understand that you  
are in communication with the Lebanese government now about the  
possibility of evacuating our nationals from Beirut and the rest of  
Lebanon."

"Yes, though discussions are ongoing," Bahl said.  He was a member of  
the Congress party, relatively far to the left, and so not a big fan  
of Ashwin, who was known for his liberal stances on economic policy.

"Well, try to complete the arrangements with the Lebanese government  
on access to their territory for evacuations.  I assume our embassy  
has been notified to make preparations for evacuation of our  
citizens," Ashwin asked.

"Yes, and the preparations are underway.  Of course, it is a big job,  
but they're working hard at it," Bahl said.

"Good," Ashwin said, nodding at the progress in that area.  "There's  
something else I'd like you to do.  Ask the Sri Lankan, Nepalese,  
Bhutanese, and Bangladeshi governments if they would like assistance  
in evacuating their citizens.  It's a good opportunity to play the  
part of good neighbor, so we'll take it if we can."

"I'll get in touch with them right away," Bahl said, jotting a note  
down.  He then paused in thought for a moment, and then looked at  
Ashwin.  "Mr. President, after discussions with the heads of the  
armed services," here Bahl nodded at the three officers sitting until  
now silently, "we have also agreed that it would be feasible to make  
the offer."

"Is this right," Ashwin asked, looking at the commander of the army,  
who nodded.

"Yes, sir.  The army feels we can afford to deploy a large force to  
Lebanon to assist the government there if so ordered," the general said.

"That's good," remembering the army's initial reluctance so soon  
after the Mumbai bombings to contemplate making any large deployment  
and thus moving troops out of India.  "Shri Bahl, since it's agreed  
that we can do it, would you mind getting in touch with the various  
parties in the region about our ideas."

"Of course," he said.  "Am I done?"

"Yes," Ashwin said, letting the Minister go.  After all, there was an  
election in the offing, and he was a politician.  Between his  
Ministry duties and his electoral work, he had quite a heavy load.   
In any case, there was nothing else for him to contribute.  Much of  
what had been discussed so far had already been gone over and  
discussed.  This was just the go ahead, really.

"So," Ashwin said after Bahl left, "what about the evacuation?  What  
do you have?"

"Sir, the Navy would like to deploy the INS Viraat, the INS Mysore,  
the INS Ganga, the INS Gomati, the INS Mahish, the INS Guldar, the  
INS Kumbhir, and the INS Lakshadweep for sea transport for the  
evacuation.  The Viraat would serve as a way point for helicopters  
with flight problems," the commanding admiral of the navy said,  
looking at his air force counterpart.

"The Air Force would deploy three squadrons of Mi-17 helicopters,  
127th, 128th, and 129th Helicopter Units, to ferry people to Cyprus,"  
the air force commander said.  "In the event of an emergency, they  
could use the Viraat as an emergency landing platform.  We anticipate  
at least starting off going just between Beirut and Cyprus, though as  
conditions allow, we may expand our operations further into Lebanon  
if it's safe to do so."

"I see," Ashwin said.  "Well, it all seems fine with me.  When would  
you all be ready to go?"

"The Navy's preparations are complete.  We start out the moment the  
word is given," the admiral said.

"The Air Force is also ready to go," the air force general said.   
Ashwin nodded.

"Well, then, consider the word given."


ACTIONS:

1)  Request permission from the Lebanese government to use their  
waters and air space for evacuating Indian nationals who wish to  
leave.  Also make arrangements to get in line for facilities also  
being used by other nations, should the Lebanese government approve.

2)  Deploy the 127th, 128th, and 129th Helicopter Units (12 Mi-17  
each) to the British bases in Cyprus and begin ferrying whatever  
Indian nationals desire to leave to Cyprus, in accordance with the  
permission from Britain.  If direct flights aren't possible or are  
too risky (despite all possible attempts at arrangements with the  
Lebanese and Israelis), arrange for the naval contingent (see action  
#3) to ferry the evacuees out to a safe distance, and then have the  
helis take them the rest of the way.

3)  Deploy the INS Viraat (28kT Carrier), the INS Mysore (6700T DDG),  
the INS Ganga and INS Gomati (4300T FFG), the INS Mahish, INS Guldar,  
and INS Kumbhir (1350T Landing ships), and the INS Lakshadweep  
(hospital ship) to Cyprus, for the same mission, with the Viraat to  
be used to take on any helicopters (see action #2) that encounter  
difficulties (it shouldn't sail with any of it's Harriers).

4)  Offer to the governments of Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, and  
Bangladesh to assist in evacuations of their citizens, via the above  
arrangements.

5)  Have the Indian embassy in Beirut prepare all such evacuations as  
above.

6)  Send the Indian ambassador in Jordan around to Israel and Syria,  
as a special envoy from President Kanchwala, to see if he can't nudge  
the various parties towards a calmer resolution to the current crisis.

7)  Sound out all the parties (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, etc) on the  
possibility of deploying a large contingent of Indian troops to  
assist Lebanon in stabilizing their country, particularly the  
southern areas.  Such activities might include helping disarm  
Hezbollah, helping the Lebanese army take control of the area,  
helping to train the Lebanese army, and various other missions  
designed to get the area under control.