How Bangladesh became Independent

 The Kashmir Problem

Under Indian Independence Act 1947, Jammu and Kashmir was one of the princely states which was given the right to join either India or Pakistan or to remain independent. The state was a model of communal harmony where Muslims, Buddhists  and Hindus lived together in peace. 

The roots of the problem go back to  1947 when Pakistan-backed tribesmen invaded the then princely state of Kashmir.

Maharaja Hari Singh

This prompted Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of Kashmir to sign an agreement on 26 October 1947 to join the Indian Union and Kashmir became an integral part of India. 

Indian forces were rushed to  Jammu and Kashmir. India also took the matter to the UN and charged Pakistan with an act of aggression against India.

UN Ceasefire 

 The UN arranged a cease-fire on 1 January 1949. Despite India's insistence on the vacation of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), Pakistan did not vacate it. 

The popularly elected Constituent Assembly of Jammu and Kashmir once again made it clear that Jammu and Kashmir was an integral part of India. Pakistan was frustrated in its venture to capture Jammu and Kashmir with the help of tribesmen.

Pakistan's Terror Factory 

In subsequent years, Pakistan adopted different tactics from time to time. These included Pakistan's decision to join the western military alliances, transfer of a portion of Pakistan occupied Indian territory to China, open aggression against India, export of cross-border terrorism and intrusions in the Jammu and Kashmir area.

Aftermath of Indo-China War

After the India-China war of 1962, Pakistan moved closer to China. In 1963, Pakistan handed over a large portion of land to China from its illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir territory. The illegal transfer of Indian land to China and the China-Pakistan collusion against India further deteriorated India- Pakistan relations. 

Role of China and USA

Chinese support and the US arms supply to Pakistan prompted it to declare a war against India in 1965,with the sole objective of conquering the whole of Jammu and Kashmir.

But Pakistan was defeated. Both the
countries signed the Tashkent
Declaration in January 1966 and
agreed to settle their disputes
through peaceful methods.
The erstwhile Pakistan consisted
of East Pakistan and West Pakistan,
both situated miles apart on the
eastern and western sides of India.
In the General Election of December
1970, the Awami League Party of
Sheikh Mujibur Rehman won the
election by securing a majority. But
the military rulers of West Pakistan
did not accept the leadership from
East Pakistan. Therefore they chose
to flout the people’s mandate. The
voice of Bengali Muslims was crushed
by the Army. A civil war broke out
between the armed forces and the
civilians. About one crore Bengali
Muslims took refuge in India. The
People’s army called Mukti Bahini
fought for the independence of East
Pakistan as a separate state of
Bangladesh.