Indo-Pakistan War 1947-71

Background causes

Colonialism, Ideology, Nationalism and Partition

Colonialism

India was a British colony.

It was ruled based on UK’s economy and strategic interest

UK kept India as a single country even though it had many differences between its people

Ideology

Two major religions: Hindu and Muslims

Ghandi tried to keep the peace

Nationalism

India National Congress: creation based on the nationalism that sought independe from the British

Muslim League: created to counter-weight the Hindu-dominated congress. They were convince that they would become a secondary roles in the politival, economic and social life of an independant India.

Partition/ Division of the territory

After WWII, Mountbatten was sent to India to negotiate independence in order to avoid a civil war.

He imposed the partition. Creating an Hindu state(India) and a muslim state (Pakistan)

14 million of Muslims and HIndus migrate to their “corresponding “ country. This migration caused aprox 500.000 to 1 mill deaths

Mountbatten’s decision prevented the civil war in the short-term.

1947-49 War causes

Partition and Kahsmir

Partition 1947-49 war cause

Princely States chose to either join Pakistan or India or to remain independant

Kahsmir 1947-49 war cause

Largest independant territory. Strategically important for both countries.

Mahraja was Hindu but his population was Muslim.

Mahraja asked for military help to India

He accepted conditions from Delhi that invited a formal intervention from Pakistan

Pakistan sent Muslim tribesmen to overthrow the government

India answered

1947-49 war practices

Aircraft, assymetry and united nations

Year of India Independance from UK

1947

Aircraft 1947-49 war practice

British aircraft used by India against regular Pakistani units.

Assymetry 1947-49 war practice

India army enjoyed initial success due to their obvious army’s strenght againts irregular local forced

Stalemate: situation in which both sides see impossible to act or progress

United Nations 1947-49 war practice

They studied the conflict and stablished a ceasefire

1947-1949 war effects

1500 deaths from each country

Northern parts of Kahsmir remained loyal to Pakistan

UN divided Kashmir, which left Pakistan in control of roughly a third and India the remaining two-thirds.

1965 Kahsmir War causes

border clashes, country changes, alliances

Border Clashes

Between Pakistan and India were frequent because there were not limited in the kahsmir region

Army patrol fought skirmishes (unpredicted fighting)

Inevitable major hastiliies break out on the border and spread to Kashmir

Country changes

Pakista: authoritarian, military playing an influential political role.

India: democracy, non-alignment policy-State doesn’t associate itself with idealogy or political goals of any other states

Alliances

Pakistan: became member of SEATO and CENTO (western alliances systems), used India’s poverty to strenght their relations with China, but it didn’t work due to their relations with USA

India: non-alignment policy made it difficult to make alliances. Broke alliances with China due to a prospect boder war. Sino-soviet relations also deterioring. USA was its only support.

1965 “Kashmir War” practices

Guerrilla Warfare, Stalemate

Guerrilla Warfare Kashmir’s war practice

major border crash with militias in Rann of Kutch. Pakistan scored a victory. Later UK government negotiated a ceasefire.

However Pakistan thought it was time for an agressive move: They called militias across the border. This provoke a general uprising against India rule.

These militias were 30000 soldiers, dressed as Kashmir civilians, quickly exposed. Paving like 2 normal armies when they fought.

India took the conflict to Pakistan-making it more serious

Stalemate Kashmir’s war practice

Soviets invited both countries to conferences and the agree on permanent ceasefire

1965 Kashmir war effects

Pre-war bondaries restored

Pakistan: lost 3800 soldiers, dicovered limits with USA (suspended arm shipments), Pakistan’s economy damaged and delayed progress.

India: lost 2800 soldiers, lost soviet’s unconditional support, increased and improved their military.

1971 Bangladesh Liberation War causes

Inequality and Awami Party

Inequality

Pakistan was split into west and east Pakistan. They had linguitic, economic and cultural differences.

East Pakistan produced the largest part of Pakistan total revenue but it received only a quarter of the national income.

Political position were led by westerns though they were a minority of the country’s population

Awami Party

East Pakistan elected this Party who put forward policies that essentially searched the independence of East Pakistan.

The party was outlawed by the president and army and its leaders were arrested.

Pakistan’s army became ruthless to surpress the East Pakistan nationalist and kill 300000 citizens.

The rise of violence concluded with the intervention of India. Partially because of the 6 million refugees.

1971 Bangladesh Liberation War practices

Guerrillas, Aircraft and foreign help

Guerrillas Warfare Bangladesh Liberation War practices

Mukti Bahni was a militia originated in East Pakistan that sought East Pakistan’s independence.

East Pakistan Militia

Mukta Bahni

Aircraft Bangladesh Liberation War practices

Pakistan aircraft was used.

India opted for a more mobil and rapid assault since East Pakistan was surrounded.

Navy was also included

Foreign assistance Bangladesh Liberation War practices

India got involved in this conflict primarily to gain some territory to fit the refugees.

The provided artillery to Mukta Bahni

1971 Bangladesh Liberation war Effects

East Pakistan became the independent state of Bangladesh

India acquired some territory in West Pakistan

India established itself as dominant power of the region

90000 pakistani prisioners

India started nukes project

How did partition help

It prevented a civil war in the short term

Effects of partition

Migration to “correspondant” territory.

500k to 1m deaths