How bio-polar security architecture had influenced the out of

Bangladesh liberation war of 1971?

1. INTRODUCTION
2. AIM
3. BANGLADESH LIBERATION WAR OF 1971
4.THE ROLE OF SUPER POWER
5.THE ROLE OF SOVIET UNION (RUSSIA)
6. THE ROLE OF USA (UNITED STATE OF AMERICA)
7. THE ROLE OF UNITED NATION
8.CONCLUSION
9.REFERENCE
Introduction:
Bipolarity is a form of international order in which two states control the majority
of global, economic, military, and cultural influence. The authoritative case of a
bipolar world is the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union.
Bangladesh was born as a nation-state in a bipolar international system in 1971,
after a violent independence struggle. During the Cold War, it was bio-polar and
the two superpowers, the United States of America (USA) and the former Union
of Soviet Socialist Countries (USSR), became the two poles, respectively leading
the Western capitalist and Eastern socialist blocs. Both superpowers acted as
preponderant powers, shaping the strategic choices of the majority of nation
states. Bangladesh's birth in 1971 was a game on the world stage in which many
teams, including superpowers, played their cards directly or indirectly when
grappling with the power balance in the international arena at the time.

Aim:
The aim of this research is to identify the influence of the bipolar security
architecture and the role of the global superpowers at that time on the liberation
war of 1971 and formation of Bangladesh.

Bangladesh liberation war of 1971:

Before 1971, Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan. Then we were the part of
then Pakistan. They started to oppress us in many ways. They did not give our
rights. On 25 March 1971 the Pakistani army invaded our mother land. They killed
many people and injured a lot. Many women were tortured by them. Thousands
of them were raped and killed. Many people fled to India to survive. But people
could not bear any more. They made themselves ready to face the Pakistani army.
Many common people, with the help of Indian government, fought against them.
They fought for Liberation. So it is called Liberation War of Bangladesh. Then
Sheikh Mujib was the leader and General Ataul Gani Osmani was the Army Chief.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman played the lead role in gaining independence. He inspired
people to fight for mother land. Common people of Bengal went to battle field
with the dream of having a free mother land. And it was the great leader Sheikh
Mujibur Rahman who made people dream for an independent country. It was not
easy for the common people to fight against the trained armies of Pakistan. They
fought for nine month and after nine month we gained our liberation. But this
liberation took lives of more than thirty lakh of people. Now we are a free nation.
We remember the freedom fighter with great respect.

The Cold War bipolar security architecture played an important role in

the outcome of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. The United States
and the Soviet Union were two superpowers in the Cold War and they
engaged in a rivalry global influence. Pakistan is a close ally of the
United States, while India is a non-aligned country with close ties to the
Soviet Union.

The role of USA (United State of America):

The United States played a complex and multifaceted role in the 1971
Indo-Pakistani War. Key aspects of his involvement include:

1. Support for Pakistan:

The United States had a close relationship with Pakistan during the Cold
War, largely based on common anti-Soviet interests. The United States
government considered Pakistan a strategic ally and provided
significant military and economic assistance to Pakistan, including
during the 1971 war.

2. Diplomatic effort:
The U.S. government made diplomatic efforts to prevent the conflict
from escalating and insisted on a peaceful settlement. He encouraged
Pakistan to seek a political settlement with East Pakistan and supported
Pakistan-India negotiations.

3. Humanitarian Aid:
The United States provided humanitarian assistance to alleviate the
suffering of refugees fleeing East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) to India.
The U.S. government, along with international agencies, contributed to
relief efforts by providing food, medicine, and other essential items. 4.
Political and moral support for Bangladesh:
As the war progressed and reports of human rights abuses and
atrocities in East Pakistan surfaced, the US government came under
pressure to take a tougher stance. Some American politicians and
celebrities have expressed support for the Bengal independence
movement and called for an end to the violence.

5. USS Enterprise Incident:

A notable event during the war was the stationing of the US aircraft
carrier Enterprise in the Bay of Bengal. His presence was seen by India
as a potential threat, leading to increased tensions between India and
the United States. However, the U.S. government has made it clear that
the use of aircraft carriers should help evacuate Americans in the
region and secure Indian Ocean shipping lanes.

Overall, the United States wanted to balance its strategic interests of

maintaining relations with Pakistan while addressing concerns about
humanitarian crises and human rights violations. The US approach was
influenced by the complexity of the Cold War dynamics, its relationship
with India, and the evolving international perception of the conflict. 

The role of Soviet Union (Russia):

The Soviet Union played a significant role in the 1971 war between Bangladesh
and Pakistan. Here's an overview of its involvement:
1. Support for India:
The Soviet Union maintained close ties with India and was an important ally of the
Indian government. During the war, the Soviet Union provided India with
diplomatic, military and logistical support.

2. Diplomatic assistance:
The Soviet Union advocated a peaceful settlement of the conflict and provided
diplomatic support to India. It also helped India gain international recognition for
Bangladesh's independence, which was a decisive factor in the war.

3. Military Aid:
The Soviet Union provided military aid to India during the war. It supplied arms,
ammunition and military equipment to strengthen India's defenses. Soviet
military advisers were stationed in India to provide training and strategic
guidance.
4. Naval Presence:
The Soviet Union deployed naval task forces in the Indian Ocean to deter possible
intervention by other nations and to support India's naval operations. This naval
presence helped secure sea routes and prevent Pakistan from receiving military
aid.

5. Exchange of information:
The Soviet Union shared intelligence information with India, including information
on Pakistani military activities and movements. This intelligence support proved
invaluable to India in planning military operations.

6. United Nations Security Council resolution:

The Soviet Union played a key role in the adoption of UN Security Council
resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire and peaceful settlement of the
conflict. This resolution was passed on her December 7, 1971 and contributed to
the end of hostilities.

Soviet aid to India in the 1971 war further strengthened bilateral ties between the
two countries. The war marked an important milestone in the Indo-Soviet
alliance, and the years that followed cemented the strategic partnership between
the two countries. 

The role of China:

China played a key role in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. A major focus of the
conflict was the independence movement in East Pakistan, which eventually led
to the founding of Bangladesh. Here's a breakdown of China's involvement:

1. Support for Pakistan:

China has maintained a long-standing alliance with Pakistan based largely on their
shared animosity towards India. When the war broke out, China provided
Pakistan with extensive diplomatic, military and logistical support. 2. Diplomatic
assistance:
China has provided Pakistan with diplomatic support, condemned India's actions
and defended Pakistan's position in international fora such as the United Nations.
She has vetoed several UN Security Council resolutions denouncing Pakistan and
calling for a ceasefire.
3. Military Aid:
China provided military aid to Pakistan during the conflict. It supplied arms,
ammunition and military equipment to strengthen Pakistan's defense capabilities.
Chinese military advisers were also stationed in Pakistan to provide training and
strategic guidance.

4. Diversionary Tactics:
During the war, China stationed troops along its border with India to pressure
India to divert military resources and attention from East Pakistan. The move
should prevent India from escalating the conflict further. 5. International
Relations:
China's support for Pakistan during the war put further strain on relations
between China and India. The two countries have had border disputes and
tensions in the past, and China's involvement in the conflict has deepened the rift.

It is worth noting that while China supported Pakistan, it did not engage in direct
warfare with India. His involvement consisted primarily of diplomatic and military
support for the Pakistani cause. 

East Pakistan Issue in UN table:

The East Pakistan issue, which eventually led to the creation of Bangladesh, was
actually debated at the United Nations during the 1971 war. Key developments
on the East Pakistan/Bangladesh crisis at the United Nations include:

1. Discussions in the Security Council:

The UN Security Council is aware of the situation in East Pakistan. Several
meetings have been held to discuss this dispute and find a solution. However, the
Cold War and veto powers of some member states prevented the Security Council
from reaching agreement on any significant action. 2. Resolution of the United
Nations General Assembly:
The East Pakistan issue was also taken up at the United Nations General
Assembly. The General Assembly deliberated and passed a resolution expressing
concern about the situation and calling for a peaceful resolution. These
resolutions emphasize the importance of respecting human rights and the need
for a political solution.

3. Humanitarian aid:
The United Nations and various international organizations are working to provide
humanitarian assistance to millions of refugees fleeing East Pakistan to India.
Efforts have been made to coordinate relief efforts and address the dire
humanitarian situation.

4. Role of the Secretary-General:

The UN Secretary-General at the time, U Thant, played a role in facilitating
negotiations between India and Pakistan. He visited the region and made
diplomatic efforts to find a peaceful solution to the crisis. However, his efforts did
not lead to progress.

5. Recognition of Bangladesh:
As the situation developed, several countries began to recognize Bangladesh as
an independent state. The General Assembly passed a resolution in March 1972
recognizing Bangladesh as a member of the United Nations.

The UN provided a forum for discussion and resolutions on the East Pakistan
crisis, but geopolitical considerations and the involvement of great powers limited
the UN's ability to take decisive action. Ultimately, Indian military intervention
resolved the conflict and created Bangladesh as an independent state. 

The support of the two superpowers was crucial to the outcome of the
war. India was able to defeat Pakistan with Soviet military assistance
and Bangladesh was able to gain independence. The bipolar security
architecture of the Cold War played an important role in shaping the
outcome of the Bangladesh Liberation War. Here are some specific
ways the bipolar security structure affects the outcome of war:

Bangladesh had the first official delegate to the UN on 4 December 1971. The
World Health Organization, UNICEF, and World Food Program provided aid to the
refugees. The United Nations established the United Nations East Pakistan Relief
Operation (UNEPRO) on 17 July 1971. The operation was headed by John R Kelly
at the beginning and later he was replaced by Paul Mckee Henry. In March 1971,
millions of people sought refuge in neighbouring India. In April, the government
of India requested the United Nations to provide humanitarian assistance to the
refugees and the United Nations Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim initiated the
response.

The Cold War rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union prevented
either superpower from directly intervening in the war. This allowed India to
wage the war on its own and ultimately led to victory for Bangladesh.
The Bangladesh Liberation War was an important event in the history of the Cold
War. It shows that the superpowers are willing to support their allies even when
they are fighting a proxy war. The war also shows that Cold War rivalry can have a
significant impact on the outcome of regional conflicts. 
The wave of millions of refugees from East Pakistan arriving on Indian soil due to
the Pakistani military's crackdown not only drew India into the Bangladesh War
but also created the most complicated international diplomacy.
Although World War II succeeded in crushing Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and
Imperial Japan, and transforming these countries into peaceful democracies, the
aftermath of this war leaving behind a much deeper fear.
In the face of the loss of millions of lives, two new global superpowers emerged,
in which the United States maintained global supremacy both militarily and
economically.
Until 1949, it was the only country capable of producing nuclear weapons.
On the other hand, the Soviet Union, which was territorially expanded to cover
one-sixth of planet Earth and whose ideological, economic and social models
were replicated in the rest of Europe, assumed its position. America's only rival.
Furthermore, the war created a new sense among the nations that their fortunes
were interconnected.
This is also shown in the formation of NATO and the WARSHAW treaty under the
leadership of the United States and the Soviet Union, respectively. NATO was
originally a military alliance of 12 countries, including the United States. The
United States can deploy weapons in member countries and unite member
countries even if they are attacked from the outside. The Warsaw Pact was a
treaty of cooperation between the Soviet Union and seven other Soviet satellite
states to counter U.S. influence in the world.
We have also seen the emergence of other security alliances such as SEATO &
CENTO, all established in the 1950s. In 1954, Pakistan joined both CENTO and
SEATO, becoming a "dual treaty ally" of the United States. The Eisenhower
administration saw the country as one that could help Washington exert influence
in South Asia by containing the communist threat. India felt threatened when the
US continued to supply Pakistan with arms, ostensibly to "fight off the
communists," as Mr. Bass put it. According to Indian estimates, US arms sales to
Pakistan amounted to US$1.5 billion to US$2 billion in the 11 years leading up to
the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965. Against this backdrop, India, which had been
openly non-aligned in the shadow of the Cold War, sought Soviet help in
procuring arms. But Soviet aid requests, a non-aligned stance, and US criticism of
the Vietnam War put India in a bad position before the US. Bass argues that India
bought weapons from the United States but ended up receiving less than a
quarter of what Pakistan did after the 1965 war. As if the 1965 war wasn't enough
to fuel the existing animosity between India and Pakistan, so too has US pro-
Pakistan foreign policy, such as the "one-off exception" to the US arms embargo
imposed on the two countries. Attracted attention. India is on high alert not only
to its neighbors but also to the world powers. 
This alignment provided the framework for the military stalemate that lasted
throughout the Cold War (1945-1991).
The emergence of China under Mao Zedong in 1949, promoting a Marxist-Leninist
ideology like that of the Soviet Union, added a new dimension to international
politics. At this time, the two superpowers began to keep an eye on our region for
control and Bengali nationalism began to develop in the matter of language .

Conclusion:
The role of super powers in the war of liberation brought to bold relief
the reality of international politics during the early 1970s. Each of the
two super powers played its part in accordance with its own national,
regional and global interests. Bangladesh, as a part of Pakistan, was a
geopolitical rarity with its own cogent reasons for successful separation
from a post colonial polity. In addition, it was a land struggling for
independence at a time when global politics was undergoing strategic
shifts. Involvement of the superpowers, positive or negative, resulted in
the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign state.
Reference:
https://thediplomat.com/ ( THE DIPLOMAT

Author: Shah Tazrian Ashrafi )

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