India Pakistan 1971 war | why it Happened full story explained by Dhruv Rathee

India Pakistan 1971 war | why it Happened full story explained by Dhruv Rathee

The India-Pakistan War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan that lasted for about two weeks. The war was fought mainly in the eastern part of Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and resulted in the creation of Bangladesh as a separate country.

 

The conflict began in March 1971, when the Pakistani army launched a military crackdown on the Bengali population in East Pakistan. The Bengali population was demanding greater autonomy and political rights, which the Pakistani government was unwilling to grant.

 

The crackdown by the Pakistani army was brutal, with widespread killings, torture, and rape of Bengali civilians. This led to a massive refugee crisis, with millions of Bengalis fleeing to neighboring India to escape the violence.

 

India initially tried to resolve the crisis through diplomatic means, but as the situation in East Pakistan continued to deteriorate, India became increasingly concerned about the security implications of the refugee crisis and the possibility of a full-scale war with Pakistan.

 

On December 3, 1971, Pakistan launched a preemptive strike on Indian airfields in the western part of the country, hoping to gain an advantage in the conflict. However, the Indian Air Force was able to quickly respond and neutralize the Pakistani air force.

 

This gave India a significant advantage in the war, and Indian forces were able to quickly advance into East Pakistan. Pakistani forces were heavily outnumbered and outgunned, and were unable to resist the Indian advance.

 

On December 16, 1971, Pakistan surrendered to Indian forces, and Bangladesh was created as a separate country. The war resulted in the deaths of thousands of people, and the displacement of millions more.

 

The India-Pakistan War of 1971 was significant for several reasons. It was the first time in modern history that a country had been created as a result of a military conflict. It also marked a turning point in the relationship between India and Pakistan, with India emerging as the dominant power in the region.

 

The war also had significant geopolitical implications, with the United States and China backing Pakistan, while the Soviet Union supported India. The conflict highlighted the growing influence of these major powers in the region, and their competing interests in South Asia.

 

The India-Pakistan War of 1971 was a result of a combination of factors, including political, economic, and cultural differences between East and West Pakistan. Following the partition of India in 1947, East and West Pakistan were separated by over a thousand miles of Indian territory, and the two regions had little in common except for their Islamic religion.

 

In 1970, East Pakistan's Awami League won a sweeping electoral victory, but the Pakistani government refused to hand over power, leading to protests and civil unrest. The Pakistani government responded by cracking down on the Bengali population in East Pakistan, resulting in a humanitarian crisis.

 

India's intervention in the conflict was also motivated by its own security concerns. India had long been concerned about Pakistan's nuclear ambitions and its support for separatist movements in India's own northeastern states. The refugee crisis caused by the conflict in East Pakistan further exacerbated India's concerns, as it feared that the influx of refugees could destabilize the region.

 

India's military intervention in the conflict was swift and decisive, and the Indian Army was able to quickly overcome Pakistani resistance in East Pakistan. The war resulted in the largest surrender of soldiers since World War II, with over 90,000 Pakistani soldiers being taken as prisoners of war.

 

The war also had a lasting impact on India-Pakistan relations, with tensions between the two countries remaining high in the decades that followed. The conflict reinforced India's dominance in the region and its status as a regional superpower, while Pakistan struggled to recover from its defeat.

 

In conclusion, the India-Pakistan War of 1971 was a result of a combination of factors, including political, economic, and cultural differences between East and West Pakistan, as well as India's own security concerns. The war had significant geopolitical implications and had a lasting impact on the region, with tensions between India and Pakistan remaining high to this day.