Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
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| Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts |
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| 1947 – 1965 – 1971 – Siachen – Kargil |
Since India achieved independence in August 1947 and Pakistan was created as a separate Muslim nation, there have been three major wars and one minor war between India and Pakistan. All the wars between the two nations have been over the disputed area of Kashmir; the only exception being the war of 1971, where the dispute between the two nations was the genocide and the resulting problems in East Pakistan. The 1971 war resulted in East Pakistan becoming an independent nation called Bangladesh following the war.
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[edit] The Wars in chronological order
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
- Indo-Pakistani War of 1999
[edit] Origins of conflict
The root of most conflicts and the mutual hatred lies in Kashmir and in the manner in which its political alignment was decided by the two countries following partition in 1947. Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu Maharajah ruling a largely muslim population who tried to make Kashmir an independent state. But following an invasion by Pakistani tribals and some regulars he acceeded to India. Immediately afterwards the First Kashmir War broke out between the two nations over the mountainous region of Kashmir when Indian and Pakistani troops fought against each other. The war lasted for more than a year with both nations making significant advances into each other's territory. As the war was ended by a UN ceasefire, India had managed to secure just under three-fifths of Kashmir and importantly the most fertile part of it including the Kashmir Valley.
The Second Kashmir War again involved the issue of Kashmir with Pakistan infiltrating and starting a rebellion in Jammu and Kashmir, India (See Operation Gibraltar) The plan was a non-starter and India retaliated by launching an attack on Pakistan igniting the war. The war ended in stalemate.
The third war was unique in that it did not involve the issue of Kashmir but was entirely about East Pakistan and the crisis brewing there. After months of internal conflict India decided to help the Bengalis in East Pakistan much to the consternation of West Pakistan. Within just a fortnight the Indian Military had decisively defeated Pakistan with the aid of the rebels and forced a surrender upon Pakistan. This war, despite lasting only a fortnight, saw the most number of casualties in any of the India Pakistan conflicts and the largest number of Prisoners of War, since the Second World War when Pakistan Army surrendered with nearly 100,000 troops and civilians.
The latest war, the Kargil War, is considered a minor war though it produced stirring emotions between the two nations involved coming at a time of increased media and electronic coverage. This was the first ground war between the two countries after they had developed nuclear weapons. The war ended with India regaining possession of Kargil.
[edit] Other conflicts
Apart from the aforementioned wars, there have been skirmishes between the two nations from time to time. Some have bordered on an all out war whilst others were pretty limited in scope. The countries were expected to fight each other in 1955 after war-like posturing on both sides, though full-scale war did not break out. In 1984 there was a flashpoint as both nations attempted to control the Siachen Glacier. Further clashes erupted in the glacial area in 1985, 1987 and 1995 as Pakistan sought without success to oust India from its stronghold. Between November 1986 and March 1987 India conducted Operation Brasstacks. This military exercise - the largest of its kind in South Asia - raised eyebrows in Pakistan and it was feared that it would lead to another war between the two neighbours. Tensions were high again in 1990 after militancy in Indian-administered Kashmir greatly increased. A terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament on December 13, 2001, blamed by India on the Pakistan-based terrorist organizations Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed, prompted India to undertake a military and diplomatic offensive and was believed by many military analysts as the precursor to war.
