In 1965, which is the year of the Indo-Pak War that followed independence, we saw the second major military conflict between India and Pakistan. In August and September of 1965, they went at it, mostly over the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. The war, which saw large-scale land campaigns, air-to-air action, and tank battles, became one of the most notable military standoffs in South Asian history.
The war broke out over border disputes, which then grew into full scale war. Although both countries reported victory, at war’s end, there had been no large-scale changes in territory, and it is in fact seen as a military standoff.
Background and Causes
The root cause of the Indo-Pak War in 1965 was the issue of Kashmir, which came to the fore at the time of the partition of British India in 1947. India and Pakistan put forth claims to the area, and for years, the tension grew.
In 1965, early clashes broke out in the Rann of Kutch, which in turn increased hostilities between the two nations. Also, that year, Pakistan put forth Operation Gibraltar, which saw them send in large numbers of infiltrators into Indian administered Kashmir to spark a local revolt. But the plan did not play out as the local population did not support the infiltration.
Pakistan, in September 1965, went ahead with Operation Grand Slam to take over strategic sites in Kashmir, which included Akhnoor, a very important node for Indian supply lines. India responded with a large-scale military action which crossed the international border, thus putting the conflict into full scale war.
Major Battles and Military Operations
In many areas of Kashmir and along the Punjab border, fighting took place. Indian forces pushed into Lahore while Pakistani troops mounted large-scale offensives in the Jammu and Punjab regions.
In the early stages of the conflict, a very important battle was the Battle of Asal Uttar, at which Indian forces put a stop to what was a large-scale Pakistani tank push and also reported to have destroyed many of those tanks. That battle proved to be a turning point in the war.
In that war, we saw the first large-scale air battle between India and Pakistan. They fought in many regions, which included Punjab, Rajasthan and Kashmir.
Ceasefire and Tashkent Agreement
The war, which came to an end on the 23rd of September 1965, when the UN put forth an immediate ceasefire. Also, both countries agreed to the terms of the ceasefire under international pressure.
In January 1966, peace talks were held in Tashkent at which Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Ayub Khan signed the Tashkent Declaration. That agreement required both countries to withdraw their forces to pre-war positions and to restore diplomatic relations.
Although the peace was brought about by the agreement, the Kashmir issue was not resolved, which led to continued tensions between the two countries for years.
Significance of the War
In 1965, India and Pakistan went to war, which at the time strengthened national unity within both nations and also brought to the fore the issue of military prepared also it showed that Kashmir is a strategic issue in South Asian politics.
The war saw both nations put effort into modernising their armed forces and developing better defence strategies. Also, it brought the attention of the world, which in turn had great powers like the Soviet Union and the United States put in diplomatic efforts.
Conclusion
In 1965, India and Pakistan went to war, which is still today a very significant chapter in the history of both countries. It put forth the issue of Kashmir and also brought to the fore the dangers of military conflict between neighbours. Although the war, which saw no clear-cut victory for either side, ended that year, its political and military results were felt for years to come. That conflict, which is still very much a part of today’s history, also continues to play a large role in the relationship between the two countries.
