India-Pakistan War of 1971 | By Dr. Mahipal Singh Rathore

Table of Contents

Partition – 1947

• Muslim majority East Bengal included in Dominion of Pakistan.
• East Pakistan had no geographical connect with west.
• Ruling elite from West in the central govt.

The Discrimination with East

• Population – 60% • Budget spending ~ 30%
• Exports – 70% Bangla recognised as official language in 1956 only after a long protests.

AWAMI LEAGUE

• Bengali nationalist party
• Wanted autonomy
• LeaderSHEIKH MUJIB-UR-REHMAN

6 Point Movement – 1966

• Federal state
• Apart from defence and foreign affairs, all subjects to states.
• Separate currency and fiscal policy
• Taxation powers
• Trade with foreign nations and separate forex reserve
• Separate military and navy

Meanwhile in the ‘WEST’

• 1969 Ayub Khan — Yahya khan
• Zulfikar Ali Bhutto – Pakistan People’s party
• Elections to the national assembly and provincial assemblies slated for 1970

The ELECTIONS

Population of East >> West Number of seats East >> West 162 138
• Floods in 1970
• Cyclone Bhola –November 1970 – 3-5 lakh deaths
• Yahya khan’s govt did not provide adequate relief
• PPP won 81 out of 138 seats in West Pak.
• Awami League won 160 out of 162 in East Pak
• Postponement of National assembly inauguration by Yahya khan.
• Negotiations for sharing of power – fail
• Both Mujib and Bhutto jailed by the president
• Strikes and protests in East Pakistan
• A.L. starts operating as a quasi government
• Pakistan army and administration suppress the protests using force.
• 26 march 1971- A.L. announces secession
• OPERATION SEARCHLIGHT by Pakistani army begins

The GENOCIDE

• From March to December, the Army and west-Pakistan backed militias kill a large number of Bengali intelligentsia, nationalist civilians, students, Awami league supporters and Hindus .
• 3-5 lakh killed
• 2-4 lakh Bengali women raped

MUKTI BAHINI

Resistance movement members form MUKTI BAHINI – Guerrilla warfare against Pak army Indian govt provides help to Mukti Bahini covertly. Awami league members also form a government-in-exile in India.

Indian Intervention

• Initially neutral.
• 10 million refugees flee to India as civil war raged.
• The refugees put a huge strain on resources of bordering states.
• Diplomatic and economic support as atrocities started. Raised plight at UN and with other nations.

The WAR BEGINS

• On 3 December ,Pakistan air force raided Indian air bases near the western frontier, as a pre emptive strike.
• India launches full blown attack on western front as well as on the eastern front.
Famous battles- • Chamb • Basantsar • Longewala • Hilli

Naval engagements

• Operation Trident- attack on Karachi naval port- many ships sunk
• December 4 – Navy day USS enterprise of US Navy tried to blockade India but Soviet navy held them off in BAY OF BENGAL

16 December – Fall of DHAKA

• Lt. Gen. AAK Niazi, commander of Pakistan army in East surrenders to Lt. Gen. J.S. Aurora With 90,000 PoWs ’BANGBANDHU’ Sheikh Mujibur rehman comes to power on 12 January 1972. (Killed in a coup in 1975) Yahya khan resigns and leaves power to Z.A. Bhutto.(Hanged to death by Zia-Ul-Haq)

Shimla Agreement

2 July 1972 Major points
• Recognition of LoC
• India gave back occupied land back to Pak.
• PoWs repatriated.
• Kashmir issue- peaceful bilateral negotiations