UPSC Exam Preparation: This Day in History – Dec 3 - Indo-Pakistan War began

The Signing of the Instrument of Surrender

On this day in 1971, the Indo-Pak War commenced, an event that eventually led to the creation of Bangladesh. Discover more about this significant historical event for your IAS exam preparation.

The Prelude to the 1971 Indo-Pak War

India gained independence from British rule in 1947, leading to the partitioning of the country into India and Pakistan, the latter being predominantly Muslim.

Pakistan was initially made up of two regions, West Pakistan and East Pakistan, the latter being the Muslim-majority region of the former Bengal province. However, tensions arose due to the alleged under-representation of Bengalis in the national government.

The Bengali population felt their culture was being marginalized by the national government. This led to movements advocating for Bengali to be recognized as an official language alongside Urdu.

Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, a prominent Bengali nationalist leader, proposed a six-point program for provincial autonomy for East Pakistan.

In the 1970 Pakistani elections, Mujibur's party, the East Pakistani Awami League, won a landslide victory, securing all but 2 of the 169 seats in the East Pakistan Assembly. This also gave the party a majority in the central Pakistani Assembly.

Instead of allowing Mujibur to form a government, the West Pakistani establishment ordered the military to suppress dissent in East Pakistan.

Protests in East Pakistan supporting Mujibur were met with a brutal crackdown by West Pakistan under the leadership of Tikka Khan in March 1971. His army committed widespread atrocities against dissenters, earning him the moniker 'the Butcher of Bengal'.

During this time, Mujibur was arrested and transported to West Pakistan. Many Awami leaders sought refuge in India. The influx of refugees into India put a significant strain on the country's resources.

Major Ziaur Rahman, a Pakistani army veteran, declared the independence of Bangladesh on radio on March 26, 1971.

The Indian government under Indira Gandhi openly supported the nationalist leaders of East Pakistan and appealed to the international community for assistance in the crisis.

India also supported the Multi Bahini, the people's army in East Pakistan, providing training to East Pakistani Bengali nationals in the refugee camps.

The state governments of West Bengal, Tripura, Bihar, Assam, and Meghalaya established refugee camps along the border.

On December 3rd, 1971, Pakistan launched preemptive strikes on Indian airfields, including Agra. That evening, Indira Gandhi declared on radio that these strikes were seen as a declaration of war against India. This marked India's entry into the war.

That same night, India retaliated with air strikes against Pakistan.

Coordinated air, land, and sea attacks were launched on Pakistan from all fronts. The goal on the eastern front was to capture Dhaka, while on the western front, the objective was to prevent Pakistani forces from entering Indian territory.

The war lasted for only 13 days, ending with the surrender of the Pakistani army on the Eastern front on December 16, 1971.

The Instrument of Surrender was signed between Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian Eastern Command and his Pakistani counterpart Lieutenant-General A.A.K. Niazi.

Following the surrender, India took over 90000 POWs, marking the largest surrender since World War II. This group also included some Bengali nationals who had remained loyal to West Pakistan.

The war was a significant victory for India, asserting its military dominance over Pakistan.

The defeat was a major blow to Pakistan, resulting in the loss of over half of its population and the establishment of the new country of Bangladesh. Pakistan released Mujibur, who became the first President of Bangladesh.

In 1972, the Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan, stipulating that in exchange for the return of Pakistani POWs, the Pakistani government would acknowledge the independence of Bangladesh.

In July 2011, the Bangladesh government posthumously awarded the Bangladesh Freedom Honour to Indira Gandhi.

Also on this day

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the 1971 Indo-Pak War begin?

The 1971 Indo-Pak War began on 3rd December.

Who was Sheikh Mujibur Rehman?

Sheikh Mujibur Rehman was the premier Bengali nationalist leader, who announced his six-point programme for provincial autonomy for East Pakistan.

What was the outcome of the 1971 Indo-Pak War?

The war ended with the surrender of the Pakistani army on the Eastern front on 16 December 1971. It resulted in the birth of a new nation, Bangladesh.

What is the significance of the Shimla Agreement?

In 1972, the Shimla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan by which in lieu of the return of the Pakistani POWs, the Pakistan government would recognise the independence of Bangladesh.

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