Indo Pak war of 1965

Indo Pak War of 1965

also known as the second war of Indo Pakistan. The war was mainly originated for the purpose of retaliation against the Operation Gibraltar. It was launched by the Pakistan government. Operation Gibraltar was for the purpose of infiltration forces into Jammu and Kashmir to participate in insurgency against in Indian rule. That was the war in which the largest number of Tanks was used after the World War II. The war caused thousands of casualties on both sides.

Background

As we know the Partition of British India had occurred in August 1947. Pakistan and India remained in disagreement over several issues. Before the war, United States and the United Kingdom had been major material allies of both India and Pakistan. However, both the countries were felt betrayal due to the lack of support by the western powers for their respective positions. The feeling of betrayal was increased with the imposition of an American and British restriction on military aid. As a consequence, India and Pakistan openly developed closer relationships with the Soviet Union and China respectively.

Operation Gibraltar

On 5 August 1965, Pakistani soldiers crossed the Line of Control dressed as Kashmiri locals headed for various areas within Kashmir. These infiltrators carried out intelligence collection with the help of locals in cities like Gulmarg and Rajouri. Indian Armed forces got information from the local resources and captured several Pakistani soldiers who revealed that Pakistan was attempting to ignite the resistance movement employing a covert infiltration, code-named Operation Gibraltar. However, The operation Gibraltar was unsuccessful.  On 6 and 7 August, Indian Armed forces encountered several Pakistani soldiers, who tried to cut communication lines and mix with the locals during celebrations. Finally, the Indian Army crossed the cease fire line on 15 August and captured several previously infiltrated peaks overlooking the Srinagar-Leh Highway.

Tashkent Declaration

The United States and the Soviet Union used significant diplomatic tools to prevent any further escalation in the conflict between these two nations. Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistani President Muhammad Ayub Khan was signed this declaration on 10 January 1966. In India, the agreement was criticised because it did not contain a no-war pact or any renunciation of guerrilla warfare across Kashmir. India’s Prime Minister, Lal Bahadur Shastri, suffered a fatal heart attack soon after this agreement on 11 January 1966.

Conclusion

War between the two countries ended after a ceasefire was declared through UNSC Resolution 211 following a diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and the United States. There was a declaration also signed by both the countries, known as the Tashkent Declaration. However, India had the upper hand over Pakistan when the ceasefire was declared. the conflict is seen as a strategic and political defeat for Pakistan, as Pakistan had not succeeded in insurgencies in Kashmir.

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