Sansad TV: Milestones Series - Indo Pak War | Current Affairs & Hindu Analysis: Daily, Weekly & Monthly - UPSC PDF Download

Introduction

The Indo-Pak War of 1965 occurred between Pakistan and India from April 1965 to September 1965. It started when Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar to infiltrate forces into Jammu and Kashmir, prompting India to retaliate with a full-scale military attack on West Pakistan. India gained the upper hand in the seventeen-day war and it ended with the Tashkent Declaration. In the 1971 war, the Indian Army defeated the Pakistani army, leading to the independence of Bangladesh and the capture of 93,000 Pakistani prisoners. This war marked the first time that India's three forces fought together in both the western and eastern sectors.

Causes of the War

• Economic situation in East Pakistan:
  East Pakistan, which earned most of the foreign exchange through exports, was poorly defended during the 1965 war with India.
• Governance disparities:
  After the creation of Pakistan, Punjab and the Punjabi-dominated army ruled the country. Although East Pakistan excelled in literacy and higher education, the Punjabis dominated the civil services exams.
• Military rule:
  General Ayub Khan took over Pakistan in 1958 and suppressed the needs and demands of East Pakistan. Martial law continued until 1962, during which Ayub purged politicians and civil servants and replaced them with army officers.
• Distance factor:
  Pakistan faced the challenge of being geographically divided by India over a thousand miles.
• Rejection of the six-point program:
  The six-point program proposed by Mujib-Ur-Rahman in 1966, which aimed for economic and political autonomy for East Pakistan, was discarded.
• Imposition of Urdu:
  Urdu was declared the "National Language" of Pakistan, despite requests from East Pakistan and the option of Arabic.
• Genocides and refugee problems:
  There were systematic ethnic killings targeting the Hindu minority among the Bengalis, qualifying as genocide. By July-August 1971, 90% of the refugees were Hindus concentrated in the border districts of West Bengal with large Muslim populations. The response from West Pakistan to the 1970 cyclone in East Pakistan lacked compassion.
• Immediate cause:
  After winning the national elections in 1971, the Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, demanded autonomy for East Pakistan. However, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Chairman of the Pakistan People's Party, refused to allow Sheikh Mujibur Rahman to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan, leading to the initiation of the war.

Factors that led to India's Victory Over Pakistan:

• Timing of war:
  India strategically chose to fight against Pakistan in the winter months when the Himalayan passes were snowbound, cutting off China's military support to Pakistan.
• Decisive leadership:
  Indira Gandhi, known for her firm decisions, displayed strong leadership during the war and remained resolute even in the face of US pressure.
• Astute diplomacy:
  Indira Gandhi sought international support for the cause of Bangladesh and highlighted India's burden of refugees. She successfully built a consensus to condemn Pakistani atrocities in Bangladesh through a UN resolution.
• Military assistance:
  India provided sanctuary to the Bangladeshi government-in-exile, trained and equipped the Mukti Bahini, and made extensive use of the Indian Air Force compared to the 1962 war against China. The Indian Navy also conducted successful operations by attacking Karachi and blockading the eastern front.
• Mutual cooperation:
  There was cooperation between the Indian armies and the local population in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), making it difficult for Pakistani forces to sustain themselves.
• Friendship treaty:
  To safeguard against potential intervention from the US or China, India signed a 20-year Indo-Soviet Treaty of Peace, Friendship, and Cooperation on August 9.

Conclusion

India played a significant role in the emergence of an independent Bangladesh and was the first country to recognize Bangladesh as a separate state. India's humanitarian intervention in Bangladesh has made it a responsible power in the region, shaping South Asia. The historical, cultural, and economic ties between India and Bangladesh demand that the political leadership of both countries strengthen their relations.