Bangladesh Liberation War

The Bangladesh Liberation War (two other names are also used occasionally) refers to an armed conflict between West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) that lasted for roughly nine months in 1971. The war resulted in Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan.

Foreign intervention

USA and USSR

The United States supported Pakistan both politically and materially. U.S. President Richard Nixon denied getting involved in the situation, saying that it was an internal matter of Pakistan. But when Pakistan's defeat seemed certain, Nixon sent the USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal and threatened India with a nuclear strike. Enterprise arrived on station on December 11 1971.

Related Topics:
Richard Nixon - USS Enterprise - Bay of Bengal - India

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Several documents released from the Nixon Presidential Archiveshttp://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB79/ show the extent of the tilt that the Nixon Administration demonstrated in favor of Pakistan. Among them, the infamous Blood telegram from the US embassy in Dacca, East Pakistan, stated the horrors of genocide taking place in East Pakistan.http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB79/BEBB1.pdf Notwithstanding this, Nixon, backed by Henry Kissinger, wanted to protect the interests of Pakistan as they were apprehensive of India. In fact, even after the war ended USA wanted to blame India. This propaganda apparently failed in the face of world opinion.

Related Topics:
Blood telegram - Henry Kissinger

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The Soviet Union had sympathized with the Bangladeshis, and supported the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini during the war. It gave assurance to India that if a confrontation with United States evolved, the USSR would provide all necessary support to India. The Soviets also sent in a nuclear submarine to ward off the threat posed by USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean.

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China

After the USA had failed to act decisively in a manner that would not draw world condemnation to itself, it sought to rope the People's Republic of China into the conflict. The plan was to attack India on two sides with the help of China and thus stopping the attack on East Pakistan. Kissinger's meeting with the Chinese was with this intention. In fact, China was the only permanent member of the UN Security Council that was supportive of such an attack, and even provided economic and military assistance. But the support was limited to protecting West Pakistan in the face of a threat from India, and not aimed directly at the internal conflict. It was also suspicious that the U.S. did not want to dirty its hands. The Chinese government wanted a strongly worded UN Security Council resolution after which the PRC would help Pakistan. It however did not materialise due to the Soviet veto and China did not intervene in the war.

Related Topics:
People's Republic of China - UN Security Council

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United Nations

Though the United Nations condemned the human rights violations, it failed to diffuse the situation politically before the start of the war. The Security Council assembled on December 4 to discuss the volatile situation in the South Asia. USSR vetoed the resolution twice. After lengthy discussions on December 7, the General Assembly promptly adopted by a majority resolution calling for an "immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of troops." The United States on December 12 requested that the Security Council be reconvened. However by the time it was reconvened, and proposals were finalised, the war ended, making the measures merely academic.

Related Topics:
December 4 - South Asia - December 7 - December 12

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The inaction of the United Nations Organisation in face of the East Pakistan crisis was widely criticized. The conflict also exposed the delay in decision making that failed to address the underlying issues in time.

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India

Main article: India's Involvement in the Liberation War

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Majority of the refugees from Bangladesh came to Indian state of West Bengal forcing then Prime Minister of India Indira Gandhi to declare war on West Pakistan. Pakistan Air Force also attacked many Indian air fields in hot pursuit of rebels. Pakistan Army tried to force Indian troops away from East Pakistan by attacking in the western sectors. Many battles like the Battle of Basantar and Battle of Longewala were fought on the western front which ensured Indian victories. Backed by the air force and the Navy, India and the Mukti Bahini finally defeated Pakistan. More than 93,000 Pakistani soldiers and their abettors surrendered to joined forces (Mitro Bahini) and were taken prisoner of war by the Indian Army, the largest surrender since World War II.

Related Topics:
Bangladesh - West Bengal - Prime Minister of India - Indira Gandhi - Pakistan Air Force - Battle of Basantar - Battle of Longewala - Mukti Bahini - Pakistan - Prisoner of war - Indian Army - World War II

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