Historical Overview:
After the 1965 Indo-Pakistanconflict, both sides rearmed and refitted. More than a few countries liberally supplied India and Pakistan with modern weapons. In 1970, the Pakistani government ended its military rule and held elections in both East and West Pakistan. These two land areas are separated by a thousand miles of Indian subcontinent but were paired together by the British in 1948, the reasoning being that their common religion (Islam) and their common fear of India would give grounds for unity. These two areas didn't even share a common language!
When the 1970 election results indicated that East Pakistan desired to split from the West, a bloody insurrection took place with the Pakistani Army inflicting numerous casualties among the civilian populace. This provided India with an opening to settle scores with Pakistan. India goaded the Pakistanis into starting the war with an Israelistyle preemptive air strike that failed because of Indian precautions and preparedness. They accomplished this by openly supporting the East Pakistani resistance and by orchestrating several border incidents along the East Pakistan/Indian border.
India's goals in this conflict were clear: they would wage a two-front war in which control of East Pakistan would be achieved quickly due to overwhelming numerical advantage on that front. In the West, they would keep Pakistani forces from gaining any disputed territory and maybe even capture some for themselves. The Pakistani goals were to try to hold out in East Pakistan foras long as possible so the forces on the western front could capture enough territory to use as a bargaining chip to get East Pakistan back. The course of the war was quick and decisive in contrast to the inconclusive 1965 war. The Indians easily swept aside the forces in East Pakistan with superior numbers and effective air support and they bloodied the Pakistanis in the west. East Pakistan became the independent nation of Bangladesh, and the rest is history. Unfortunately for the impoverished people of Bangladesh, it would be a history of famine and starvation.
Liberation of Bangladesh 1971 Indo-Pakistan Air War
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© Copyright 1992 by J.D. Webster
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