ASSIGNMENT NO 1

Submitted to
Prof Imtiaz Ahmad
Submitted by:
Muhammad Hamza
Roll No:
19011513-021
Course code:
PAK-101
Course title:
Introduction to Pak Study
Topic:
War of 1965 and Prospective
Date of submission:
10\06\2020

Department of Statistics
PAK - INDO WAR OF 1965 AND ITS
PERSPECTIVE

‘Force enters when diplomacy is exhausted’, says Z.A Bhutto in The

Myth of Independence. The reality of this quotation is evident from
the 1965 War between India and Pakistan when the issues and
apprehensions got out of diplomatic premise. The event had far-
reaching impacts on South Asia and one can scrutinize the shifts in
balance of power, as well as political and geo-political maneuverings
and interference of the great powers in the region.
 
In September 1965, India attacked Pakistan owing to the latter’s
provocation by undertaking the operation Gibraltar in Indian held
Kashmir. As a result, Pakistan put all its resources and potentials to
counter the attack of a far more powerful enemy. The war continued
for sixteen days and was followed by a summit of the leadership that
was held in Tashkent in 1966. According to the declaration a mutual
agreement was signed between India and Pakistan saying that the
forces would take their prewar positions.
 
The 1965 War did not happen abruptly. There was a whole scheme of
significant events that led to the extreme tensions of 1965 resulting in
conflict and war. There were many dimensions of the event but we are
intended to scrutinize the diplomatic orientation only. After the
Second World War, the comity of nations got divided into two groups
i.e. the Capitalist bloc led by USA and the Communist bloc led by
USSR. Struggle for power and hegemony over the entire world
between these blocs caused so many conflicts in different parts of the
world and at different times. Korean War (1950-53) followed by the
Vietnam War (1955-75) were the episodes of long lasting conflict
between the Capitalists and the Communists. Both were striving to
spread and spawn their influence and authority as far as they could.
South Asia was also one of the most important regions they contested
for.
 
To understand the real dynamics of diplomatic relations before the
War of 1965, it is very necessary to understand and comprehend the
relations between USSR and USA, China and USA, China and USSR,
India and USSR and Pakistan and India.
 
Starting from USSR and USA, an alliance between both the powers
ended in a long-lasting enmity and hatred for each other. Both fought
proxy wars in Korea, Vietnam and Afghanistan. USA aimed at
containing the escalating popularity of Communism throughout the
world and to resist the Russian government from setting up the
Communist regimes over the continents. On the other hand, USSR
intended to intercept the containment of USA and establish
revolutionary regimes based on Communism all over the globe. As
China was the first and the most formidable ally of the USSR, it was
not on good terms with USA. In Korean War, USSR was not directly
involved, rather it was China which was countering the Americans on
behalf of the Russians. China had to pay a huge price in terms of
economy and manpower during that war. It was in 1952 (during the
Korean War) that Stalin died. Mao Tse-tung came forward to lead the
communist world as its lawful leader after Stalin on the basis of his
seniority but he was not accepted. Russians were not ready to let go
the leadership of the Communist world. Another thing which
infuriated Chinese was their huge loss in the Korean War and less
acknowledgement from USSR. Henceforth, China began to devise its
independent foreign policy.
Now, we come to the relations between the great powers and the
South Asian powers. India won freedom in 1947 from its Imperial
Masters. Right from the beginning, Premier Nehru had been crying
for the economic equality as one of the major objectives of the Indian
government. He was clear in his views about the socialist economy
and automatically had a propensity towards the Russians. He was
warmly welcomed by the Russians. But, Nehru never got into alliance
of any of the two Systems. He kept on taking advantages from both
the blocs but never accepted their suzerainty. India maintained
amicable relations with China as well. Pakistan, on the other hand,
joined the Western alliance and became a party to the Capitalism
which led to the hostile relations between USSR and Pakistan. With
China also, Pakistan was not on good terms owing to the American
decision of not accepting the Socialist government, which Pakistan
had to accept.
 
In 1962, relations between India and China deteriorated on the issue
of border demarcation. As both the USA and the USSR had their
grievances with China, they supported India against China and poured
in a lot of military and economic aid. India was much confident owing
to its military strength and great powers’ support and jumped into a
border conflict with China where she had to confront humiliation.
India, before that defeat, was exploiting the hatred and fears of the
USA and the USSR to materialize her excessive demands. As soon
she was defeated, she could see nothing but a dark future. She raised
the standards of her demands and asked for more. Meanwhile, she
kept on exaggerating the Chinese threat. Consequently, she was
provided with more resources. Pakistan was observing the whole
scenario. It put its apprehensions on record saying that the military
and economic aid would be used against Pakistan rather than China
but all in vain. USA and UK were neither ceasing India’s aid nor
treating Pakistan with the same generosity. When Pakistan put stress
on her ‘allies’, she was refused straight forwardly of any help.
 
Pakistan, in spite of being a member of SEATO and CENTO, was left
all alone at the mercy of a much powerful enemy with huge reservoirs
of military and economic resources poured in by her own ‘allies’.
Anyhow, Pakistan managed to pull through such a tough conditions
without any assistance or help. The war was fought for sixteen days
only but it had enormous impacts on the South Asian diplomatic
relations. Almost five states changed their policies i.e. Pakistan and
China established amicable relations with each other, India and China
fail to reconcile with each other, etc.
 
Pakistan due to USA’s indifference started to look forward to other
alliances and established good relations with the Muslim countries
within the next ten years and ceased to be a member of
Commonwealth and other defense pacts.
 
The 1965 War has been exploited by the army ever since to serve its
own purpose. It manipulated the nation and filled them with hatred
and enmity for their neighbors. This hatred has become the greatest
hurdle in the establishment of good relations with India.

REASON:
  The partition of India even led to dispute over sharing of river
waters. The water of nearly all the rivers – Indus, Chenab, Sutlej,
Beas, and Ravi flowed from India. In 1948 India stopped water of
these rivers.
A dispute ensued and the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 signed between
Nehru and Ayub Khan. After this Pakistan was to use waters of
Jhelum, Chenab and Indus while India was to use the waters of Sutlej,
Beas and Ravi.
Then boundary commission tried to settle the border dispute. Dispute
ensued over Rann of Kutch in 1965 Pakistan attacked near Kutch
border. India referred dispute to UN. Seeing this as India’s weakness,
Pakistan tried to outrage Kashmir. On 5 August, 1965 Pakistan
stationed troops along the LOC.

Effects:
The War began following Pakistan’s Operation
Gibraltar, which was designed to infiltrate irregular “Jihadi” forces
into J & K to precipitate an insurgency against rule by India.
- War ended in a United Nations mandated ceasefire and the
subsequent issuance of the Tashkent Declaration.
Note: Tashkent Declaration was signed between President Ayub Khan
of Pakistan and Shastri an Indian Premier to solve all the disputes
bilaterally and strive to live in peace. This agreement was signed
on January 10, 1966.