Wars Fought By India After Independence: India has been defending its sovereignty since gaining independence in 1947 due to ongoing threats from its neighbouring countries, China and Pakistan. The Indian Armed Forces have worked tirelessly to protect the nation from external and internal enemies, earning them a reputation as one of the world’s strongest armies. India has been victorious in most conflicts it has faced post-independence, with the exception of the 1962 war with China. This article provides a detailed overview of all the wars India has fought since gaining independence.
India has fought several wars after gaining independence in 1947. The list of wars fought by India after independence (some of the notable conflicts) includes the following.
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| No. | Conflict Name | Year | Territory/Area | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948 | 1947-1948 | Kashmir | Ceasefire, establishment of the Line of Control |
| 2 | Sino-Indian War of 1962 | 1962 | Border dispute | Chinese victory |
| 3 | Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 | 1965 | Rann of Kutch and Lahore | Ceasefire |
| 4 | Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 | 1971 | Bangladesh | Creation of Bangladesh |
| 5 | Kargil War of 1999 | 1999 | Kargil district, Kashmir | India’s victory, Pakistan’s withdrawal |
| 6 | India’s role in UN peacekeeping force in Congo (ONUC) | N/A | Congo | Peacekeeping efforts |
| 7 | India’s role in UN peacekeeping force in Somalia (UNOSOM II) | N/A | Somalia | Peacekeeping efforts |
| 8 | India’s role in UN peacekeeping force in Cambodia (UNTAC) | N/A | Cambodia | Peacekeeping efforts |
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These are some of the major wars fought by India after independence, but there have been many other smaller conflicts and border skirmishes as well.
The First Indo-Pakistani War 1947-1948
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947-1948 was the first major conflict between the newly independent nations of India and Pakistan. It was fought over the territory of Kashmir, which was a princely state ruled by a Hindu ruler but with a Muslim-majority population. The conflict began in 1947 after the British withdrew from the Indian subcontinent and the two countries gained independence.
The Maharaja of Kashmir, Hari Singh, initially wanted to remain independent but eventually acceded to India under duress. Pakistan responded by sending in tribal fighters to Kashmir to try and take control of the region. India intervened by sending in its own troops, leading to a full-scale war between the two countries.
The war of 1947 between India and Pakistan ended in 1948 with a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations, with Pakistan controlling about one-third of the state and India controlling the remainder. However, the dispute over the territory of Kashmir continues to this day and has been the cause of several subsequent conflicts between the two nations.
The Sino-Indian War of 1962
2nd on the list of wars fought by India after independence is The Sino-Indian War of 1962. It was a conflict between China and India over a border dispute. The dispute had its roots in a long-standing boundary disagreement over the McMahon Line, which was a proposed boundary between British India and Tibet that was drawn up in 1914. India claimed that the McMahon Line was the official boundary between the two countries, while China maintained that the line was never officially recognized and that the true boundary was further south.
The war began in October 1962 when Chinese troops launched a surprise attack on Indian positions in the disputed border region. The Indian army was caught off guard and was quickly overwhelmed by the better-equipped and better-trained Chinese forces. The Chinese advanced deep into Indian territory, capturing several key towns and strategic positions.
The war ended in a decisive Chinese victory in November 1962. China declared a ceasefire and withdrew its troops to pre-war positions, but retained control of the territory it had captured. The war left India humiliated, with a death toll of around 4,000 troops and a further 1,696 taken as prisoners of war. The war also left a lasting impact on India-China relations, with the two countries continuing to have a tense and uneasy relationship to this day.
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan that took place between August and September 1965. The war was fought primarily in the Rann of Kutch and Lahore sectors. It was the second major conflict between the two countries since their independence in 1947.
The war began with a series of border clashes between the two countries in the Rann of Kutch, a marshy area in the westernmost part of India. Pakistan claimed that the area was a part of its territory while India insisted that it was within its borders. The clashes escalated into a full-scale war in August 1965, with both countries mobilizing their armies.
The war saw heavy fighting on both sides, with India gaining the upper hand and making significant territorial gains. Pakistan, however, was able to hold on to Lahore and other major cities in West Pakistan. The war ended on 23 September 1965 with a ceasefire brokered by the United Nations. The ceasefire was followed by the Tashkent Declaration, which was signed by the leaders of India and Pakistan, and led to the return of captured territories by both countries.
The war resulted in heavy losses on both sides, with around 3,800 Indian and 3,200 Pakistani soldiers killed. It had a lasting impact on the relationship between the two countries, with the dispute over the territory of Kashmir continuing to be a major source of tension.
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a military conflict between India and Pakistan that took place in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) from 3 December 1971 to the fall of Dacca (Dhaka) on 16 December 1971. The war was the result of political, economic and ethnic tensions between East and West Pakistan that had been simmering for years.
The war began when Pakistan launched a pre-emptive strike on Indian airfields in the western sector in December 1971. India responded by launching a full-scale invasion of East Pakistan, with the aim of liberating the Bengali population from Pakistani military rule. The Indian army, with the support of Bengali Mukti Bahini (liberation fighters) quickly gained the upper hand, and within a few weeks, they had surrounded the Pakistani army in East Pakistan.
The war ended in a decisive Indian victory, with Pakistan surrendering on December 16, 1971 and East Pakistan becoming the independent state of Bangladesh. The war resulted in a significant loss of life, with an estimated 300,000 to 3,000,000 Bengalis killed and around 90,000 Pakistani soldiers taken as prisoners of war by India.
The war had a profound impact on the region, leading to the creation of Bangladesh and significantly weakening Pakistan’s military and economic position. It also further exacerbated the already-strained relationship between India and Pakistan, with the two countries continuing to have a tense and uneasy relationship to this day.
The Kargil War of 1999
The last one on the list of major wars fought by India after independence is The Kargil War of 1999. It was a conflict between India and Pakistan that took place in the Kargil district of Jammu and Kashmir, a region that is claimed by both countries. The war began in May 1999, when Pakistan-backed militants and soldiers infiltrated the Indian side of the Line of Control (LoC) and occupied strategic positions in the Kargil district. India responded by launching a military operation to drive out intruders.
The conflict quickly escalated into a full-scale war, with heavy fighting taking place in the rugged terrain of the Kargil district. The Indian army, with the support of the Indian Air Force, was able to make steady progress in pushing back the Pakistani-backed forces. However, the operation was hampered by the difficult terrain and the high altitude, which made it difficult for the Indian troops to maneuver.
The war ended in July 1999, when Pakistan ordered its troops to withdraw and the Indian army was able to reclaim the occupied territory. The war resulted in heavy losses on both sides, with around 527 Indian soldiers and around 453 Pakistani soldiers killed. The war had a significant impact on the relationship between the two countries, further escalating the already-tense situation in the region.
Wars Fought By India After Independence – FAQs
India has fought several wars since gaining independence in 1947, including the First and Second Kashmir Wars with Pakistan, the Sino-Indian War with China, and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. India has also been involved in conflicts such as the Nagaland insurgency, the Assam agitation, and the Sri Lankan Civil War.
The First Kashmir War was fought between India and Pakistan in 1947-1948 over the princely state of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan claimed that the Muslim-majority state should have been part of Pakistan at the time of the partition of British India, while India argued that the Hindu Maharaja of the state had acceded to India. The war ended with an UN-mediated ceasefire, with Pakistan controlling a portion of the state and India controlling the rest.
The Sino-Indian War was fought in 1962 over a dispute regarding the border between the two countries. China claimed that the border, known as the McMahon Line, was not legally binding, while India argued that it was. The war ended with a Chinese victory, and China subsequently annexed the Aksai Chin region.
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was fought between India and Pakistan over the East Pakistan province, which later became Bangladesh. India supported the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan, while Pakistan attempted to suppress it. The war ended with a decisive Indian victory, and East Pakistan declared independence as Bangladesh.
India became involved in the Sri Lankan Civil War, which lasted from 1983 to 2009, when it sent peacekeeping troops to the country as part of a regional peacekeeping force. India also played a role in mediating peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatist groups. However, India’s intervention was criticized by some for supporting the Sri Lankan government and not doing enough to protect Tamil civilians.