1971 war the story of india’s victory : All you need to know
Today, December 3 is a significant day for India and its neighbours Bangladesh and Pakistan. On this day 49 years ago, a military confrontation took place between India and Pakistan which paved the way for the birth of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan).
Pakistan surrendered to India and Bangladesh after the 13 days long Indo-Pakistan war of 1971 which began on December 3. Its the day when the Pakistan Army surrendered to India. It took 93,000 of its prisoners and gave independence to 75 million people of Bangladesh. It was also the largest military surrender after World War II.
Over 3,800 soldiers of both the rivals lost their lives in this war to end the genocide Pakistan had been conducting against the Bengali population of its eastern territory.
It was perhaps the first time in which all three Indian forces fought in unison.The war was triggered after Pakistan launched airstrikes on 11 Indian airbases. India quickly responded to Pakistan Army’s movements in the west and captured around 15,010 kilometres of its territory.
The war ended after the chief of Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi and its 93,000 troops surrendered to the joint forces of Indian Army and Bangladesh.
Indira Gandhi was reluctant to launch a full-scale war against Pakistan as the country was already facing the burden due to the continous flow of refugees from East Pakistan and entering a war meant inviting more burden.
She also appealed to world leaders to intervene and pressurise Pakistan to stop its brutalities but India did not have much time and a quick response became necessary.
On December 6, she announced in Parliament that India had accorded recognition to the Bangladesh Government.
On August 2, 1972, India and Pakistan signed the Shimla Agreement under which the former agreed to release all the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war.
How the 1971 war was fought and won?
During the war, Indian and Pakistani militaries simultaneously clashed on the eastern and western fronts; the war ended after the Eastern Command of the Pakistan military signed the Instrument of Surrender on 16 December 1971 in Dhaka, marking the formation of East Pakistan as the new nation of Bangladesh.
Why did India win the war of Pakistan in 1971?
Over 3,800 soldiers of India and Pakistan lost their lives in this war to end the genocide Pakistan had been conducting against the Bengali population of East Pakistan. The conflict was a result of the Bangladesh Liberation war, when Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) was fighting to seek freedom from (West) Pakistan.
