New Delhi, Dec. 31 -- The perception of a weakened India significantly influenced Pakistan's decision to start the conflict in 1965. The 1962 debacle against China left scars on the Indian military and political psyche. The death of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964, followed by the appointment of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, created an impression of leadership flux.
During this interregnum, a man of few words, returning from a Non-Aligned Summit, reportedly conveyed to Field Marshal Ayub Khan in Rawalpindi that peaceful coexistence with India was desirable. Pakistan, however, chose aggression over accommodation.
Another key factor was the assassination of US President John F. Kennedy in November 1963. Kennedy had promised to...