The war between India and Pakistan in December 1971 was a milestone in that it saw the liberation of East Pakistan resulting in the birth of a new nation, Bangladesh. The story of Bangladesh’s liberation is rooted in the complex political and cultural landscape of post-colonial South Asia.
The two-nation theory sowed the seeds of discord, leading to the formation of Pakistan in 1947, which was divided into West and East Pakistan. More than just geographical, this division was a chasm of cultural, economic, and political disparities.
The Bengali population of East Pakistan, despite being a majority, faced systemic oppression and cultural subjugation by the West Pakistani authorities.
The background
In 1970, General Yahya Khan, who had succeeded Ayub Khan as president and chief martial law administrator in Pakistan, promised to restore democracy in Pakistan and duly called for general elections—the first ever election based on adult franchise in that country. Also, the number of seats to the National Assembly was to be in proportion to the population. East Pakistan, the more populous of the two wings of Pakistan, was thus, naturally, allotted more seats than West Pakistan.
In West Pakistan, the dominant party was the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) led by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, while in East Pakistan, the Awami League led by Mujibur Rahman was the dominant party. Mujibur Rahman spoke of the eastern wing being repressed by the military rulers and treated as a colony to cater to West Pakistan’s interests. The East Pakistanis resented their language—Bengali—being sidelined and the low representation of their people in the higher administrative sections of the country. Mujibur Rahman demanded greater autonomy and a true federal constitution with greater powers for the East wing.
The poll was held in December 1970 and the results showed where Pakistan was heading. While the PPP won a majority of seats in West Pakistan, the Awami League simply swept the elections in East Pakistan and, in the process, got a majority over all. Yahya Khan did not like the prospect of an assembly led by an East Pakistani and dominated by East Pakistanis with their demand for autonomy in framing a new democratic constitution. There was also a fear among the West Pakistan rulers that the Hindus in East Pakistan, many of whom were well-educated professionals, might influence the writing of the constitution.
Yahya Khan with the endorsement of Zulfiqar Bhutto postponed convening the National Assembly. This angered the East Pakistanis, and the call for a general strike by the Awami League met with a good response. In March 1971, the Pakistani military regime took steps to crush the protest and sent tanks and forces into East Pakistan. Mujibur Rahman was arrested and moved to an unknown destination. There seemed little chance for reconciliation after the violent clashes and the brutal killing of civilians, especially students, by the Pakistani Army.
The Genocide
One of the darkest aspects of the conflict was the systematic genocide of Bengali civilians. The scale and brutality of these atrocities were staggering, with millions displaced and countless lives lost. It is a stark reminder of the horrors of genocide and the importance of international humanitarian law.
Refugee Influx in India and Indian Response
One consequence of the civil war in East Pakistan was the exodus of refugees (mostly Hindus) from that country into India, the numbers running into millions by August 1971. India allowed these refugees in and set up camps for them.
Mukti Bahini
The resilience and indomitable spirit of the Mukti Bahini, a group of Bengali nationalist guerrilla fighters, embodied the Bengali struggle for independence. Their fight was not just against military oppression but also for the preservation of their cultural identity and heritage.
The Mukti Bahini’s guerrilla tactics and deep-rooted support among the local populace were pivotal in sustaining the resistance against a well-equipped Pakistani military.
India’s Role
The Indian role in the Bangladesh Liberation War was more than just a neighbourly intervention. It was a strategic and humanitarian response to a growing refugee crisis and a moral stand against the atrocities being committed.
The Indian military, alongside the Mukti Bahini, formed a formidable force that eventually led to the surrender of Pakistani forces in Dhaka.
Global response to the crisis
The initial global response to the crisis was tepid, with significant powers reluctant to intervene in what was seen as an internal matter of Pakistan.
But as reports of the genocide and humanitarian crisis surfaced, international opinion shifted. After that the war for Bangladesh’s independence became a global concern, highlighting the need for international intervention in humanitarian crises.
However the country that could have made a difference, namely the USA, remained unimpressed. In November 1971, Richard Nixon and Indira Gandhi met but did not agree on the situation; Nixon said
that the US would not agree to overthrow Yahya Khan and warned India against taking military action.
The USSR, as opposed to the US, agreed with India on the situation on the subcontinent—that the two wings of Pakistan had drifted too apart for a possible reconciliation. The USSR offered military equipment to India. It also proposed a friendship treaty with India, which would act as a deterrent to Pakistan and China if they thought of getting together and indulging in military adventurism.
War and surrender by Pakistan
Pakistan chose to attack India on the western border on December 3, 1971. India had modernised its armed forces, besides starting indigenous weapons’ manufacture. The Pakistani military was no match for the Indian forces.
There was a further handicap that the Pakistanis were working under—the low morale of its forces due to the civil unrest and defection of Bengali personnel and the stress of having to fight people of their own country. It was now clear that Dacca was going to fall to the Indian forces.
India’s intention for East Pakistan became clear on December 6, 1971 when the Indian government formally recognised the Provisional Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.
On December 13, Yahya Khan sent a message to Lieutenant-General A.A.K. Niazi, the Commander of the
Pakistan Eastern Command, to give up arms. But it was on December 16, 1971 when the Instrument of Surrender of Pakistan Eastern Command stationed in East Pakistan, was signed between the Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora, the GOC-in-C of Indian Eastern Command and Lieutenant General A.A.K. Niazi, the Commander of the Pakistan Eastern Command, at the Ramna Race Course in Dacca.
East Pakistan had been liberated and a new independent nation Bangladesh had come into being. Mujibur Rahman, released from captivity, assumed the leadership of the new nation.
The Birth of Bangladesh
The emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation on December 16, 1971, was a triumph of the human spirit. It was a victory for the Bengali people’s right to self-determination, cultural identity, and political autonomy. This momentous occasion was not just the end of a war but the beginning of a new chapter in South Asian history.
The Simla Agreement
In Pakistan, following the war, Yahya Khan resigned and Zulfiqar Bhutto took over. Bhutto was reported to be in favour of beginning a new relationship with India. India was not against the idea.
Bhutto was invited for a summit at Simla in June 1972 and an agreement was signed on July 2.
The Simla Agreement was considered to be a comprehensive blue print for good neighbourly relations
between India and Pakistan. Under the agreement, both countries undertook to abjure conflict and confrontation, and to work towards the establishment of durable peace, friendship, and cooperation.
The two countries agreed to follow a set of guiding principles in managing relations with each other: respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; non interference in each other’s internal affairs; respect for each other’s unity, political independence; sovereign equality; and abjuring hostile propaganda.
There was a mutual commitment to the peaceful resolution of all issues through direct bilateral approaches, and to build the foundations of a cooperative relationship with special focus on people-to-people contacts.
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External link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Pakistani_war_of_1971
