BANGLADESH LIBERATION WAR (1971)

India got Independence on 15th August 1947. India universally

accepted the idea that all men are created equal. Whereas Pakistan

is considered the “ Land of pure”.

Pakistan was divided into two parts. East Pakistan – now

Bangladesh and west Pakistan is the present Pakistan.

Root cause of these incident was URDU. As WEST PAKISTAN

was made up of races including Punjab, Sindhi’s , pathans,

Balochin’s, Mohanjir, etc. whereas EAST PAKISTAN was much

more homogeneous and had an overwhelming Bengali speaking

population.

Political power concentrated in West Pakistan and East Pakistan

was exploited economically leading to many grievances.

Election was won by East Pakistani political party “ AWAMI

LEAGUE” under the leadership of Sheikh Mujibur Rehman,

winning 167 out of 169 seats allotted East Pakistan, thus majority

out of 313 seats in National assembly.

This gave Awami League constitutional right to form a

government but Pakistan Peoples party leader “ ZULKIBAR ALI

BHUTTO” refused to allow to be new Prime minister of Pakistan,

instead he said lets make two Prime minister for each wing, hence

they meet in Dakha along with the President GEN. YAHA KHAN.

But Mujibur was arrested and killing of all intellectuals started in

East Pakistan.

West Pakistani troops attacked East Pakistani Hindu people. Gen.

Tika khan, started “OPERATION SEARCH LIGH” to curb Bengali

Independence Movement.

Violence focused on East Pakistan but affected all parts of East

Pakistan Residential halls of Dhaka and around 600-700 residents

were murdered.

The Reason for this OPERATION SEARCH LIGHT on East

Pakistan is understood to be as provided by the Government of

West Pakistan Was “BIHARI MASSACRE” as Bihari’s were

slaughtered by Bengali Mob in Chittagong, as Bihar people at that

time supported West Pakistan.

Gen. Tika Khan “Butcher of Bengal” went on Massacre and

slaughtered. His aim was to capture the land and convert all

Hindus to Muslims. He used cruel actions like Rape and around

four lakh rape cases and 3-5 months pregnant women’s were

identified when they were released from Pakistan’s army. Their

aim was to dishonour Bengali women’s to undermine Bengali

society.

Hindus and Bengali speaking Muslims were slaughtered and total

number of death toll rise to 3 million and around 10 million

refugees fled to India through neighbouring states.

India Prime minister decided to go for war against Pakistan.

Indian Government supported “MUKTI BAHINI” comprising of

Bengali Civilians which (RAW) helped to train, organise and arm

this insurgent and they succeeded in their counter attack on the

Pakistani military.

Pakistan forces were unable to counter the Indian Guerrilla Attack

as deployed in small units around border.

Pakistan surrendered on 16 December 1971.

In this war, Pakistan was financially supported by the United

states, China provided them with modern arms and ammunition.

Whereas Bangladesh was helped by India and Russia.

US feared India invasion of West Pakistan would mean total Soviet

domination of region and would undermine the global position of

US, so the US president Richard Nixon encouraged countries like

Jordan, Iran to send military assistance to Pakistan while

encouraging china to increase their arms supply in Pakistan.

US also introduced a resolution in UN security council calling for

cease fire and withdrawal of armed forces by India.

Shimla Agreement is called the Peace treaty, was signed on july2,

1972, in Shimla, the capital of Himachal Pradesh. Agreement was

the result of resolving and putting an end to the conflict. Steps

taken for normalization of mutual relations and laid down

principle should govern the future relations.

Shimla Treaty was signed by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto , President of

Pakistan and Indian PM Indira Gandhi on 3 July at 00.40 hrs

midnight.

This agreement paved way for diplomatic recognition of

Bangladesh by Pakistan.

As per these Shimla Agreement “settlement of differences between

this two countries will be by peaceful means through Bilateral

Negotiations and denies 3rd party to intervene like UN.

The Agreement also led to conversion of Cease fire line of

December 17,1971 into LOC between India – Pakistan and was

agreed neither side shall seek to ulter it, irrespective of mutual

differences and legal issues.