WARS IN INDIA AFTER 1947

INTRODUCTION

• After independence in 1947 our country has fought in several wars, the major ones and the most being against Pakistan and China. Though in recent times there has not been any war but tensions across the border particularly with China and Pakistan has grown up.

INDIA PAKISTAN CHINA

An Overview

1st Indo-Pak war, 1947

• Operation polo, 1948

• Invasion of Goa, 1961

• Sino-Indian war, 1962

• 2nd Indo-Pak war, 1965

• 3rd Indo-Pak war, 1971

• Siachin war, 1984

• 4th Indo-pak War (Kargil war), 1999

• Srilanka mission, 1987-90

1ST INDO-PAK WAR 1947

The first Indo-Pak war took place when the Pakistani army invaded the independent province of Kashmir.

As they reached the capital city Srinagar, the Maharaja Hari Singh signed an agreement with India under which all the lands were given to India.

Indians sent their troops shortly in but lost 1/3rd of the area to Pakistan which is still under Pakistan control.

OPERATION POLO- 1948

• Until 1948 Hyderabad was not an Indian state but an independent enclave within India with majority population of Muslims. After the WAR with Pakistan in 1947, India realized that a Muslim dominated zone could mean trouble in any future conflict with Pakistan , India invaded and quickly overran Hyderabad. This came to be known as Operation Polo.

INVASION OF GOA- 1961

In 1961 tension rose between India and Portuguese occupied territory of Goa, which India considered Indian territory. The Portuguese used extreme violence to suppress an unarmed and peaceful demonstration following which the Indian govt. launched an attack forcing the Portuguese to surrender. Losses were

• Portuguese – 31 killed, 57 wounded and 3306 captured.

• Indian – 34 killed and 51 wounded.

SINO-INDIAN WAR- 1962

• The Sino-Indian war in 1962 was fought against China, when China attempted to gain control over Indian border areas to which India retaliated. The Tibet area & the Tibetans were the major reason around which the 1962 war revolved. In 1962 war, India lost terribly to China. This led to the entire revamp of Indian army.

2nd INDO-PAK WAR- 1965

• The 2nd Indo-Pak war also fought over Kashmir issue. None of the country got a clear cut victory with both sides occupying each others territories. The Russia interrupted and Tashkent agreement was signed after which the war was ended.

• In this war the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) outperformed the Indian Air Force (IAF) as a result IAF decided to purchase new aircraft and strengthen its base.

3rd INDO-PAK WAR- 1971

The 3rd Indo-Pak war started as a result of conflict between West Pakistan(today Pakistan) and East Pakistan(today Bangladesh) in 1971.

The West Pakistan forces attacked East Pakistan after which many of them fled to India. India interrupted in the matter and helped to remove west Pakistan forces from East and thus helped in the formation of new nation BANGLADESH.

Casualty inflicted on East Pakistan- 30 lakh

SIACHIN WAR- 1984

Fought between India and Pakistan.

Area of Dispute- Siachin Glacier (worlds highest battlefield).

The area was under territorial dispute but in the late 1970s and 1980s Pakistan began Organizing several tourist expeditions.

Operation Meghdoot was launched and the top of the Glacier was captured by establishing a military base there by the Indian forces.

4th INDO-PAK WAR- 1999

• Fought over Kashmir issue.

• Stared after the Pakistani army infiltrated in the Kashmir area. India launched Operation Vijay to regain the territory. This came to be dubbed as Kargil war.

• Losses :

• India- 527 soldiers

• Pakistan a little over 1600

SRILANKA MISSION – 1987-90

• The war in Srilanka was between major ethnic group Sinhalese and the minorities Tamils.

• On 5th june 1987 Indian govt. airdropped food and medicines in Jaffna following which Indo-Srilankan peace treaty was signed oon 29th July 1987.

• Indians deployed Indian Peace Keeping Forces (IPKF) was put in place.

…Continued

• LTTE (Liberation Tiger Of Tamil Eelams) refused to surrender weapons and IPKF resorted to violence.

• Rajiv Gandhi refused to bring back IPKF. Defeated in parliamentary elections in December, 1989. The new Prime Minister V.P Singh finally called back IPKF on 24th March, 1990.

• On 21st May 1991 Rajiv Gandhi was killed in an Assassination .