The 1971 conflict began with East Pakistan's demand for autonomy after decades of economic exploitation and cultural suppression by West Pakistan. When the Awami League won Pakistan's first general election in 1970, the military regime refused to transfer power and instead launched Operation Searchlight on March 25, 1971—a brutal crackdown that targeted Bengali intellectuals, students, and civilians. As ten million refugees fled to India, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's government trained and armed the Mukti Bahini resistance while pursuing international diplomatic support. Full-scale war erupted when Pakistan launched preemptive airstrikes on December 3, 1971. Just thirteen days later, Indian forces surrounded Dhaka, forcing Pakistan's 93,000 troops to surrender. Bangladesh emerged as an independent nation, while Pakistan lost half its territory and population overnight. The conflict reshaped South Asia's political landscape and established India as the region's dominant power, while leaving lasting psychological scars across all three nations.
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