Bangladesh War of Independence
March 26 – December 16, 1971 · East Pakistan (Bangladesh)
Result Bangladeshi-Indian victory
1971 conflict between East Pakistan's Bengali nationalist movement and Pakistan, resulting in independent Bangladesh with India's help. Pakistan's junta under Yahya Khan launched Operation Searchlight against East Pakistanis on 25 March 1971; the Mukti Bahini, a guerrilla resistance of Bengali military, paramilitary, and civilians, fought back.
Bangladesh and India
Pakistan
Other
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Leader of the Awami League, Declared Bangladesh's independence; arrested by Pakistan
Ziaur Rahman
belligerent leader
Tajuddin Ahmad
belligerent leader
Indira Gandhi
Prime Minister of India, Backed the Bangladeshi forces and sent the Indian Army
Sam Manekshaw
military commander
Jagjit Singh Aurora
military commander
Syed Nazrul Islam
military commander
Battles and events 4
- Operation Searchlight May 25, 1971
- Battle of Garibpur November 20–21, 1971 · Indian-Bangladeshi victory
- Battle of Hilli November 22 – December 18, 1971 · Bangladeshi-Indian victory
-
Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 December 3–16, 1971 · Indian victory
- Battle of Hilli November 22 – December 18, 1971 · Bangladeshi-Indian victory
- India–Pakistan naval war of 1971 December 2–16, 1971
- Operation Chengiz Khan December 3, 1971 · Pakistani failure
- Battle of Longewala December 4–7, 1971 · Indian victory
- Battle of Basantar December 4–16, 1971 · Indian victory
- Operation Trident (1971) December 4–5, 1971 · Strategic Indian naval victory and partial naval blockade on Pakistan
- Operation Python December 8–9, 1971 · Indian victory, partial de facto naval blockade of Pakistan.
Before and after
- Ended by
- Pakistani Instrument of Surrender December 16, 1971
