Indo-Pak War
What started off as an internal issue of Pakistan evolved into a full scale war between two neighboring arch-enemies, India and Pakistan. On December 3, 1971 at about 5:40 PM, Pakistani air forces launched pre-emptive air strikes on eleven air fields including Agra, 300 miles inside the border of India. The Indian Prime minister addressed the nation on radio and announced that the country was at full scale war. The Indian forces conducted a massive well-coordinated raid involving air, sea and land assaults. The war lasted 14 long days – but was still the shortest war in history.
India was initially not in favor of engaging itself in any form of armed conflict. India was actually opposed to East Bengal’s secession as late as April 1971 fearing the Benagli nationalism could raise its head in its own state of West Bengal. [1]. However, because of the growing refugee crisis over the past six to eight months, India’s attitude changed. The refugee influx took a heavy toll on India’s already crippling economy. Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India traveled many countries, visited UN appealing everyone to bring an end to the imbroglio in East Pakistan and resulting refugee crisis. She also asked for international help for feeding the swelling number of refugees hitting its soil every day. However, no one paid any heed to her. He came back empty handed from her whirlwind international tour with a firm determination that she has to solve this problem by herself. In the week of October 18,1971, she openly made a comment in Indian Parliament that war is inevitable. [2]. From May up until October, India only extended diplomatic support to the rebel Bangladesh government and the liberation force. By the last week of October, the tone changed. India was getting ready for a full scale war to put an end to the genocide and creating a conducive atmosphere for the refugees to return to their home country.
My Grandma recounts the War days
When the war broke out, my Grandma and Grandpa were in a border town in India called Agartala. Indian military had heaviest presence in Agartala because of its close proximity to the East Pakistan. She told me “ the border was only 5 kilometers from where we stayed. Indian army occupied all the schools, all the streets, all extra rooms of any households to establish makeshift office or command center as they say. They asked us to dig bunker and stay underneath most of the time especially at night. We used to do that. … The shrill noise of shelling of incessant mortar fire, rocket launchers, and machine guns used to frighten me a lot. Your great grandma used to cry. She thought we were not going to survive this situation as the war happening so close to us – only miles away. This continued for 13 agonizing days.”[3]
India was initially not in favor of engaging itself in any form of armed conflict. India was actually opposed to East Bengal’s secession as late as April 1971 fearing the Benagli nationalism could raise its head in its own state of West Bengal. [1]. However, because of the growing refugee crisis over the past six to eight months, India’s attitude changed. The refugee influx took a heavy toll on India’s already crippling economy. Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of India traveled many countries, visited UN appealing everyone to bring an end to the imbroglio in East Pakistan and resulting refugee crisis. She also asked for international help for feeding the swelling number of refugees hitting its soil every day. However, no one paid any heed to her. He came back empty handed from her whirlwind international tour with a firm determination that she has to solve this problem by herself. In the week of October 18,1971, she openly made a comment in Indian Parliament that war is inevitable. [2]. From May up until October, India only extended diplomatic support to the rebel Bangladesh government and the liberation force. By the last week of October, the tone changed. India was getting ready for a full scale war to put an end to the genocide and creating a conducive atmosphere for the refugees to return to their home country.
My Grandma recounts the War days
When the war broke out, my Grandma and Grandpa were in a border town in India called Agartala. Indian military had heaviest presence in Agartala because of its close proximity to the East Pakistan. She told me “ the border was only 5 kilometers from where we stayed. Indian army occupied all the schools, all the streets, all extra rooms of any households to establish makeshift office or command center as they say. They asked us to dig bunker and stay underneath most of the time especially at night. We used to do that. … The shrill noise of shelling of incessant mortar fire, rocket launchers, and machine guns used to frighten me a lot. Your great grandma used to cry. She thought we were not going to survive this situation as the war happening so close to us – only miles away. This continued for 13 agonizing days.”[3]
Final days of the War
On the morning of December 16, people speculated over a news on the Indian radio that the Pakistan army was on the verge of collapse. When people were just about to take a deep sigh of relief, the next moment they heard another round of intense firing and shelling. That stopped around 4 PM when Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi officially announced the fall of Dacca at the hands of the Indian army and the abject surrender of the Pakistani army following an ignominious defeat. Pakistani General A.A.K. Niazi Khan signed the instrument of surrender with his Indian Counterpart, General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
On the morning of December 16, people speculated over a news on the Indian radio that the Pakistan army was on the verge of collapse. When people were just about to take a deep sigh of relief, the next moment they heard another round of intense firing and shelling. That stopped around 4 PM when Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi officially announced the fall of Dacca at the hands of the Indian army and the abject surrender of the Pakistani army following an ignominious defeat. Pakistani General A.A.K. Niazi Khan signed the instrument of surrender with his Indian Counterpart, General Jagjit Singh Aurora.
1. Pai, Nitin. "The 1971 East Pakistan Genocide - A Realist Perspective." Bangladesh Genocide Archive. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Jan. 2013.
2. "The World: East Pakistan: Even the Skies Weep." TIME 25 Oct. 1971: n. pag. Web.
3. Majumdar, Sikha R. "Escape From Bangladesh." Personal interview. 03 Jan.2014.
2. "The World: East Pakistan: Even the Skies Weep." TIME 25 Oct. 1971: n. pag. Web.
3. Majumdar, Sikha R. "Escape From Bangladesh." Personal interview. 03 Jan.2014.