Bus 351

Course: Emergence of Bangladesh (HIS103)
Submitted to: Professor Dr. Taiabur Rahman
Department of History and Philosophy
North South University
Submitted by: Saiyara Wadifa Haque (2231645630)
Section- 23
Role of International Forces in the Bangladesh War of
Independence
Introduction
The Bangladeshi war of independence in 1971 is what caused the emergence of the country of
Bangladesh. It is remembered by most as a civil war catalyzed by decades worth of civil unrest
and multiple movements by the denizens of East Pakistan against the central government of
Pakistan which existed solely to provide benefits to the West Pakistani population. The war led to
the genocide of Bangladeshis on a massive scale and many who fled the country as refugees or
became internally displaced. Many of the victories and defeats of the Bangladeshi people
however were caused by forces outside of their control, including the interventions and opinions
of many foreign powers. This paper will summarize the actions taken by international powers
which contributed to the final results of the war.
Pakistan
Then West Pakistan was the seat of the government which had dominion over both territories of
modern Bangladesh and Pakistan. Pakistan suppressed multiple civil movements such as the
1952 Language movement and other religious freedom and student movements prior to 1971.
The oppression of the Bangladeshi population went further towards withholding tax revenues,
maintaining under developed rural areas to the status quo. The Pakistani military invaded Dhaka
and the surroundings following the controversial general election of 1971 on the night of March
23rd 1971. The Pakistani invasion remained, fighting the forces of the Mukti Bahini and India
until their surrender on 16th December of the same year; having caused nearly 10 million
displaced people and approximately 3 million deaths.
India
India is the country which had the greatest stake in the war apart from Pakistan and so in order to
see their own advancement in their rivalry against Pakistan, India provided significant support
for the liberation of Bangladesh. On March 27; 1971, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi made
it clear that the Indian government was in full support of the Bangladeshi liberation movement
and that they would aid the war effort, undertaking the responsibility of managing refugees.
The refugee crisis of 1971 has been considered one of the largest of all time with over 9 million
refugees fleeing towards the Indian border. The refugees were provided safe havens in areas such
as West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura with India managing all the refugee
camps by themselves.
Furthermore, India played a big role militarily during the war providing fighter plane support
against the Pakistani air offensive as well as aiding the ground militia and guerilla forces of the
Bangladeshi Mukti Bahini; it is also well recognized that India was responsible for training of
the many forces of the Mukti Bahini.
Diplomatically, India’s support made it possible for Bangladesh to be free of much international
consequence. The United States of America was famously against the liberation of Bangladesh
and kept supplying arms to Pakistan. Furthermore, they were against the United Nations
providing support for the Bangladeshi liberation; this effort was halted by Indian lobbying of the
western allies (France, UK) to stop the passing of a pro-Pakistan resolution in the United Nations
Security Council.
Towards the end of the war, it was becoming clearer that India would have to intervene militarily
in the war, especially with the increasing hostilities between India and Pakistan and also the
buildup of Indian military forces along the now Bangladeshi border. On December 3rd, 1971 the
Pakistani Air Force made an aerial attack on northwestern India bombing air bases and
attempting to capture territory as a bargaining chip in case they lost their territories in modern
day Bangladesh. Alongside a successful Indian Naval attack on Karachi, Indian ground forces
marched towards Dhaka; sieging the city until it was surrendered by Pakistan on 16th December,
1971, ending the war once and for all.
United States of America

The United States had an ongoing support for the West Pakistani government from even before
the war, supplying arms in the name of fighting the spread of communism in the Indian
subcontinent. Even after the war ended, the CIA gave a massively underrated score for the death
toll during the war, trying to decrease international backlash against them permanently. Then
president Nixon completely ignore the call from the United States Consul to Bangladesh
regarding denouncing the actions of West Pakistan. Moreover, the United States maintained their
stance in the United Nations Security council, however their diplomatic power internationally
was dismantled by the efforts of India and the Soviet Union.
Soviet Union
In order to support and gain a relationship with India, the Soviet Union signed a pact of 20 years
of alliance with India, making them a direct supporter of Bangladeshi independence in contrast
to the United States and West Pakistan. The Soviet Union further supported the Bangladeshi
cause when the United States of America realized that India was in fact capable and more likely
to win the ongoing war, and proposed a draft resolution to the United Nations Security Council
for a ceasefire and cessation of hostilities; which the Soviet Union promptly vetoed. The Soviet
Union kept standing up to the pressure of the United States in order to allow the war to be won in
further months by India and the Mukti Bahini.
China
China had at that point tried to gain an advantage on the Indian subcontinent since its inception
after the partition and breakaway from the British Empire in 1947. China heavily supported the
internal colonization policy of then West Pakistan and further, was a supporter of anti-liberation
sentiments against East Pakistan. Since China had already been a rival of India due to their
border conflicts and hostilities regarding areas such as Tibet, they would gain a significant
foothold in the region if West Pakistan succeeded in the war and kept being their ally. This would
further help China fight the U.S. policy of containing the interests of China in the South Asian
region.
Conclusion
The interference from foreign powers definitely changed the war in various ways; from Indian
military and diplomatic support alongside diplomatic assistance from the Soviet Union in the
United Nations Security Council, to opposition from the United States and China. The war had a
lasting impact not only upon Pakistan and now Bangladesh but also international foreign policy.
References
Bangladesh Liberation War and China in 1971. (n.d.). The Asian Age.
https://dailyasianage.com/news/325445/bangladesh-liberation-war-and-china-in-1971
Boissoneault, L. (2016, December 16). The Genocide the U.S. Can't Remember, But Bangladesh
Can't Forget. Smithsonian Magazine.
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/genocide-us-cant-remember-bangladesh-cant-
forget-180961490/
Dummett, M. (2011, December 16). Bangladesh war: The article that changed history. BBC
News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-16207201
Role of India. (2024, March 13). Bangladesh Genocide Archive.
https://www.genocidebangladesh.org/role-of-india/
Shrivastava, S. (2011, October 19). 1971 India Pakistan War: Role of Russia, China, America
and Britain. https://www.theworldreporter.com/2011/10/1971-india-pakistan-war-role-
of-russia.html

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Course: Emergence of Bangladesh (HIS103)

Submitted to: Professor Dr. Taiabur Rahman

Department of History and Philosophy

North South University

Submitted by: Saiyara Wadifa Haque (2231645630)

United States of America

Can't Forget. Smithsonian Magazine.

Role of India. (2024, March 13). Bangladesh Genocide Archive.

and Britain. https://www.theworldreporter.com/2011/10/1971-india-pakistan-war-role-

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