876 Chapter 6
MID#1447
Dispute Number: 1447
Date(s): April 7, 1971 to December 21, 1971
Participants: 770 Pakistan/750 India
Outcome (and Settlement): Victory for side B (Negotiated)
Fatalities: >999 deaths
Narrative: As Pakistan considered a new constitution, unrest grew in East Pakistan,
including demonstrations, strikes, civil disobedience, and refusals to pay taxes. On
March 25, 1971, the Pakistani military struck Dacca, and in the following months
the military burned villages and killed civilians. Over 10 million refugees fled to
India, stressing the Indo-Pakistani relationship. On December 3, 1971, India and
Pakistan went to war. The UN Security Council began deliberations on December 4,
but because the council could not agree on a resolution it referred the matter to the
General Assembly. On December 7, the General Assembly passed Resolution 2793
calling for an immediate ceasefire and a mutual troop withdrawal. India refused to
comply with the resolution, so the council once again took up the issue. On December
16, Pakistani troops in East Pakistan surrendered, and on December 17, the Indian
forces implemented a unilateral ceasefire. Four days later the Security Council passed
Resolution 307 calling for a ceasefire while both sides withdrew troops. Afraid the
loss of Kashmir in addition to the loss of East Pakistan would destabilize Pakistan,
India did not attempt to seize Kashmir. On July 3, 1972, India and Pakistan signed the
Simla Agreement, formally ending the dispute. The Simla Agreement cemented the
Indian and Pakistani positions as the new line of control in Kashmir, granting more
territory to India.
Coding changes: End Date changed from December 17, 1971.
MID#2638
Dispute Number: 2638
Date(s): May 5, 1972
Participants: 770 Pakistan/750 India
Outcome (and Settlement): Compromise (Negotiated)
Fatalities: 101–250 deaths
Narrative: MID#2638 was a Pakistani attempt to recapture Kashmiri territory it had
held but lost to India in the Third Kashmir War. On May 5, Pakistani troops attacked
Indian positions at the head of Lipa Valley. Indian and Pakistani army headquarters
maintained communications throughout the day, and by dusk they had agreed to a
truce. However, no face-to-face meeting took place since Pakistan insisted on the
presence of representatives from the UN military observer group, and India insisted
the observers had no role to play. On July 3, 1972, India and Pakistan signed the Simla
Agreement, ending this and other ongoing disputes.
MID#2639
Dispute Number: 2639