On December 16, 1971, the unthinkable happened— the eastern wing of Pakistan, East Pakistan, declared independence after a devastating war, leading to the creation of Bangladesh. This moment marked the end of a traumatic chapter for Pakistan, with the loss of a significant part of its territory, countless lives, and a deeply divided national psyche. The Fall of Dhaka is not just a historical event; it is a lesson on the complexities of nation-building, ethnic tensions, and the impact of external interference. Over 50 years later, the consequences of that day still echo through the region, and it is time to reflect on the causes, consequences, and myths surrounding the war and its aftermath.
The roots of the 1971 crisis lay in the deepening divide between East and West Pakistan. While Pakistan’s founding father, Quaid-e-Azam, envisioned a united nation with Urdu as a binding linguistic force, the people of East Pakistan— largely Bengali-speaking— felt increasingly alienated. Jinnah’s view of Urdu as a lingua franca was primarily driven by the need to establish a unifying language for the new state, as Urdu was widely spoken across northern parts of South Asia, including parts of India. However, this approach failed to address the cultural, linguistic, and political aspirations of the Bengalis, who felt sidelined in a country where the power was centralized in the West.
Despite their political and economic marginalization, Bengali leaders had held prominent positions within Pakistan’s government and military, such as Khwaja Nazim Uddin, Mohammad Ali Bogra, and others. However, the centralization of power in West Pakistan led to a sense of disenfranchisement in East Pakistan, where local grievances regarding the disproportionate distribution of resources, political representation, and military presence began to grow. The situation worsened after the 1970 elections, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman’s Awami League won a landslide victory, but was denied power by the ruling authorities in West Pakistan, setting the stage for a violent and tragic confrontation.
The Indian-backed Mukti Bahini, a separatist group in East Pakistan, played a significant role in stoking the flames of insurgency. While the Pakistani Army’s actions during the operation have been heavily criticized, it is essential to examine the context and scale of these allegations. Numerous reports of atrocities were circulated in international media, with claims of three million Bengalis being killed, which later became a key part of Bangladesh’s narrative. However, many historians, including Sarmila Bose in her book Dead Reckoning, have disputed these figures, calling them exaggerated and manipulated for political purposes. Bose suggests that the actual death toll was between 50,000 and 100,000, far lower than the inflated numbers often quoted by Indian and Bangladeshi sources. The atrocities committed by the Mukti Bahini, including the systematic killings of Bihari Muslims, are also often overlooked in the narrative. These Biharis, who supported Pakistan, were subjected to brutal violence, with over 500,000 killed during the conflict.
Furthermore, the role of India in supporting the insurgency is undeniable. India provided logistical and military support to the Mukti Bahini, facilitating the insurgency and ultimately invading East Pakistan in December 1971. Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s government, backed by Indian intelligence agencies (RAW), actively worked to dismember Pakistan’s eastern wing. RAW’s support for the insurgents was a calculated effort to weaken Pakistan, and India’s involvement in the conflict is often downplayed in mainstream historical accounts. According to Indian intelligence officers like R.K. Yadav, India had long planned the dismemberment of Pakistan, viewing it as a means to weaken a regional rival.
The Fall of Dhaka is a tragic reminder of complexities of nation-building, the consequences of political and ethnic alienation, and the dangers of external interference. While Pakistan must take responsibility for its internal failures, the role of India and the international media in shaping the narrative of the 1971 war cannot be ignored. As we reflect on this painful chapter in history, it is essential to remember that the real victims were the people caught in the crossfire— whether they were soldiers, civilians, or refugees.
The Fall of Dhaka remains a deep wound in Pakistan’s national consciousness. The loss of East Pakistan was not just a territorial setback; it was a blow to the country’s identity and its ambitions for unity. For Pakistan, it symbolized failure of nation-building and the inability to reconcile diverse ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups that comprised its population. The division of Pakistan served as a painful reminder of the challenges of creating a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual nation-state.
In decades following the war, Pakistan has worked hard to recover from the trauma of 1971. The tragedy also shaped Pakistan’s foreign policy, particularly its relationship with India, which continues to be a source of tension. While Pakistan acknowledges its shortcomings in handling the situation in East Pakistan, it is crucial to recognize the external factors at play, particularly India’s role in fomenting insurgency and destabilizing the region.
The Fall of Dhaka is a tragic reminder of complexities of nation-building, the consequences of political and ethnic alienation, and the dangers of external interference. While Pakistan must take responsibility for its internal failures, the role of India and the international media in shaping the narrative of the 1971 war cannot be ignored. As we reflect on this painful chapter in history, it is essential to remember that the real victims were the people caught in the crossfire— whether they were soldiers, civilians, or refugees.
