India-Pakistan Conflict: Soon after the partition of India in 1947, Muslim refugees gathered in camps in Delhi. The colonial policy of “Divide and Rule” by the British had ignited flames of discord between Hindus and Muslims, shattering the long-standing harmony and coexistence that once characterized the Indian subcontinent.
A Shared Past, A Divided Future
Before 1947, the regions now known as India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh were a single territory under British colonial rule. This land was home to a vibrant mosaic of cultures and religions — where ancient temples stood beside centuries-old mosques, and Hindus and Muslims shared spaces of worship, tradition, and identity.
However, British strategies sowed seeds of division. As the struggle for independence intensified, religious unity began to erode. Weakened by World War II, the British prepared to exit India. While leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru envisioned a united nation through the Indian National Congress, Muhammad Ali Jinnah and the Muslim League demanded a separate state for Muslims.
At the time, Muslims comprised roughly one-quarter of India’s population. Fearing potential suppression in a Hindu-majority nation, Jinnah famously declared in Lahore in 1940, “Muslims are a nation by every definition. We must have our own homeland, territory, and government.”
Just seven years later, on June 3, 1947, the British announced the partition: Hindu-majority regions would form India, and Muslim-majority areas in the northwest and east would become Pakistan. Accordingly, Pakistan was created on August 14, 1947. Jinnah proclaimed, “We begin with the fundamental principle that we are all equal citizens of one state.”
The next day, India gained independence. In Parliament, Nehru declared, “At the stroke of midnight, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.”
Freedom? It Was Bloodshed.
Partition carved up Punjab and Bengal. Hindus and Sikhs fled toward India; Muslims to Pakistan. Armed mobs torched cities. Trains arrived filled with corpses from both sides. Nearly 2 million people died, and 15 million were displaced — one of history’s largest forced migrations.
This violence sowed lasting animosity between the two countries, especially over Kashmir — a Muslim-majority region ruled by a Hindu king. When Pakistani-backed militants attacked, King Hari Singh sought India’s support, triggering the first India-Pakistan war from 1947 to 1949.
War After War: A Legacy of Blood and Blame
India and Pakistan have fought four major wars, each further deepening mistrust:
1. 1947–48 Kashmir War: The newly formed armies clashed in Kashmir’s mountains. Nehru declared in Parliament, “We will not tolerate an invasion of our land.” Pakistani Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan responded, “Kashmir is Pakistan’s lifeline — we will give our lives to protect it.” The UN brokered a ceasefire in July 1949, establishing the Line of Control (LoC). India retained two-thirds of Kashmir, Pakistan the rest. Around 5,000 lives were lost.
2. 1965 War: Pakistan infiltrated Kashmir with militants, prompting a full Indian military response. Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri declared, “India will answer bullets with bullets — and we will prevail.” Pakistani President Ayub Khan warned, “Our army will trample the enemy and protect our sacred soil.” After a month of intense fighting and 7,000 deaths, the UN again intervened for peace. The war crippled both economies.
3. 1971 War and the Birth of Bangladesh: The seeds of this conflict were sown during partition, with Pakistan consisting of two wings — West Pakistan (now Pakistan) and East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) — separated by 1,600 kilometers of Indian territory. Bengali-speaking East Pakistanis felt politically and economically marginalized. In 1970, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League won elections, but was denied power. On March 25, 1971, Pakistan launched “Operation Searchlight” against Bengali civilians, killing 3 million and displacing 10 million into India. Mujibur declared Bangladesh’s independence before being arrested. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi trained and supported the Mukti Bahini (freedom fighters). On December 3, Pakistan attacked Indian air bases, prompting India’s entry into war. Gandhi stated, “This war was thrust upon us, but it is a fight for justice.” Pakistan’s General Yahya Khan vowed to “fight to the last man.” By December 16, around 90,000 Pakistani soldiers surrendered. Bangladesh was born. Pakistan’s defeat pushed it toward nuclear ambitions.
4. 1999 Kargil War: Pakistani militants occupied mountain posts in Kargil. India launched fierce assaults to reclaim the territory. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee declared, “We shall not bow — our forces will push out the infiltrators.” Pakistani Army Chief Pervez Musharraf claimed, “Our fighters are defending Kashmir’s rights.” About 1,000 soldiers died. The war followed both countries’ nuclear tests in 1998, raising fears of nuclear escalation.
An Arms Race Amidst Poverty
Despite no major war after 1971, tension simmers. Skirmishes along the LoC are frequent. In 2001, terrorists attacked India’s Parliament. India blamed Pakistani groups. Vajpayee warned, “This is a war on terrorism. We will uproot it.” Both nations deployed massive troops along the border, but diplomacy prevented war.
In 2019, a suicide bombing in Pulwama killed 40 Indian soldiers. Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded, “The blood of our martyrs will not go in vain.” India launched airstrikes on a camp in Balakot, Pakistan. Pakistan shot down an Indian jet. Prime Minister Imran Khan appealed for peace, saying, “Let us avoid miscalculations and seek dialogue.” His measured tone averted war — narrowly.
On April 22 this year, a terrorist attack in Pahalgam killed 25 Indians and one Nepali tourist. Modi told Parliament, “We will hunt these terrorists from every corner of the earth.” In retaliation, India launched “Operation Sindoor,” targeting Pakistan. Pakistani missiles followed, returning both nations to the brink of war.
The Shadow of War Returns
Today, the LoC resembles a battlefield, with artillery roaring and soldiers engaging in provocative drills. Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told the BBC, “We haven’t acted yet. But when we do, the world will know.”
India has also revoked the Indus Water Treaty, cutting off a crucial water supply to Pakistan’s agriculture. This, analysts say, strikes at Pakistan’s heart.
Modi faces pressure from Hindu nationalist groups to “take blood for blood.” On the other side, Pakistan’s struggling economy and political instability push its military to seek unity through anti-India sentiment. Some believe Chinese backing emboldens Pakistan.
But both countries possess nuclear weapons. If war erupts again, the consequences could be catastrophic — not just for South Asia, but for the world.
