Republic of India
The Republic of India has fought three wars and one major incursion battle with Pakistan and one border war with China.
Major wars
First Indo-Pak war, 1947
Independent India, formed on August 15, 1947, has seen three wars with Pakistan (1947–48, 1965, 1971). The first war took place after Pakistani soldiers and armed tribesmen invaded the independent province of Kashmir. When the forces almost reached the capital Srinagar the Maharaja, Hari Singh signed an agreement with India in which all Kashmiri lands were ceded to India. India sent their troops in shortly after and freed a some of the new Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistani inflitrators.However,India lost one third of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistani forces in the war which is to date under Pakistani control.
Operation Polo, 1948
After the Indo-Pak war of 1947, India realized that a major problem was the Hyderabad State an independent enclave in India. Realizing that a Muslim state could mean trouble in any future conflict with Pakistan, India invaded and quickly overran Hyderabad.
Invasion of Goa, 1961
In 1961 tension rose between India and Portugal over the Portuguese-occupied territory of Goa, which India considered Indian territory. After Portuguese police used extreme violence to suppress an unarmed and peaceful attempt by demonstrators to be reunited with India, the Indian government decided to invade. After an air campaign by the Indian air force, Indian ground and naval forces quickly drove through Goa, forcing the Portuguese to surrender. Portuguese losses were 31 killed, 57 wounded, and 3,306 captured. Indian losses were 34 killed and 51 wounded.
Sino-Indian war, 1962
India fought a border war against China (1962). China won the border war, leading India to revamp the entire military system. After the war ended, the Department of Defence Production was set up to create an indigenous defence production base which is self-reliant and self-sufficient. Since 1962, 16 new ordinance factories have been set up.
Second Indo-Pak war, 1965
The second Indo-Pak war was also fought over Kashmir issue. It ended in overall stalemate with India and Pakistan capturing each others terrotories. Though Indian Airforce (IAF) suffered very heavy losses due to better performance of Pakistan Airforce (PAF) in the battle, IAF decided to revisit all plans and purchase of new aircraft after the war. A major USSR interfered and got the truce between the two nations at Tashkent agreement, which also saw the mysterious death of Indian PM Lal Bahadur Shastri. At the same time, there was the possibility of a second Sino-Indian war along the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.
The Chola Incident
A Sino-India skirmish took place in 1967 and is known today as the Chola Incident.
Third Indo-Pak war, 1971
In the third Indo-Pak war, India intervened decisively in what was then East Pakistan due to the mass exodus of refugees to India following West Pakistani military action there. The new nation of Bangladesh was created as a result. India succeeded in removing Pakistani soldiers from what is now known as "East Pakistan" resulting in the formation of Bangladesh. This conflict is often cited as India's greatest military victory. Bangladesh claims a huge genocide committed by the Pakistani Army. Figures of as much as 3 million killed are often agreed upon.
Siachin war, 1984
The Siachin war between India and Pakistan occurred in 1984. The area of the dispute was the Siachen Glacier – the world's highest battlefield. The Glacier was under territorial dispute, but in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Pakistan began organizing several tourist expeditions to the Glacier. India, irked by this development, mounted Operation Meghdoot, and captured the top of the Glacier by establishing a military base which it still maintains to this day at a cost of more than US$1 million per day.[9] Pakistan on the other hand spends just under US$1 million per day, though as % of GDP Pakistan spends 5 times as the Indian Military does to maintain its share of the glacier.[10] Pakistan tried in 1987 and in 1989 to re-take the Glacier but was unsuccessful. A stalemate has arisen where India controls the top part of the Glacier and Pakistan is placed at the bottom of the Glacier.
Kargil war, 1999, Operation VIJAY
India fought a brief border skirmish with Pakistan in the Indian state of Kashmir in 1999. Dubbed the Kargil War, after the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and paramilitary in the Kargil area, India reclaimed the territory partially through military and mainly through diplomatic channels. The event is regarded as one the biggest intelligence failure on the part of Indian intelligence. India lost 527 soldiers in the conflict, while Pakistan lost a little over 1600.
Other Operations
Sri Lanka mission, 1987–1990
The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) carried out a mission in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, in 1987–1990
The Republic of India has fought three wars and one major incursion battle with Pakistan and one border war with China.
Major wars
First Indo-Pak war, 1947
Independent India, formed on August 15, 1947, has seen three wars with Pakistan (1947–48, 1965, 1971). The first war took place after Pakistani soldiers and armed tribesmen invaded the independent province of Kashmir. When the forces almost reached the capital Srinagar the Maharaja, Hari Singh signed an agreement with India in which all Kashmiri lands were ceded to India. India sent their troops in shortly after and freed a some of the new Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir from Pakistani inflitrators.However,India lost one third of Jammu and Kashmir to Pakistani forces in the war which is to date under Pakistani control.
Operation Polo, 1948
After the Indo-Pak war of 1947, India realized that a major problem was the Hyderabad State an independent enclave in India. Realizing that a Muslim state could mean trouble in any future conflict with Pakistan, India invaded and quickly overran Hyderabad.
Invasion of Goa, 1961
In 1961 tension rose between India and Portugal over the Portuguese-occupied territory of Goa, which India considered Indian territory. After Portuguese police used extreme violence to suppress an unarmed and peaceful attempt by demonstrators to be reunited with India, the Indian government decided to invade. After an air campaign by the Indian air force, Indian ground and naval forces quickly drove through Goa, forcing the Portuguese to surrender. Portuguese losses were 31 killed, 57 wounded, and 3,306 captured. Indian losses were 34 killed and 51 wounded.
Sino-Indian war, 1962
India fought a border war against China (1962). China won the border war, leading India to revamp the entire military system. After the war ended, the Department of Defence Production was set up to create an indigenous defence production base which is self-reliant and self-sufficient. Since 1962, 16 new ordinance factories have been set up.
Second Indo-Pak war, 1965
The second Indo-Pak war was also fought over Kashmir issue. It ended in overall stalemate with India and Pakistan capturing each others terrotories. Though Indian Airforce (IAF) suffered very heavy losses due to better performance of Pakistan Airforce (PAF) in the battle, IAF decided to revisit all plans and purchase of new aircraft after the war. A major USSR interfered and got the truce between the two nations at Tashkent agreement, which also saw the mysterious death of Indian PM Lal Bahadur Shastri. At the same time, there was the possibility of a second Sino-Indian war along the Nathu La Pass in Sikkim.
The Chola Incident
A Sino-India skirmish took place in 1967 and is known today as the Chola Incident.
Third Indo-Pak war, 1971
In the third Indo-Pak war, India intervened decisively in what was then East Pakistan due to the mass exodus of refugees to India following West Pakistani military action there. The new nation of Bangladesh was created as a result. India succeeded in removing Pakistani soldiers from what is now known as "East Pakistan" resulting in the formation of Bangladesh. This conflict is often cited as India's greatest military victory. Bangladesh claims a huge genocide committed by the Pakistani Army. Figures of as much as 3 million killed are often agreed upon.
Siachin war, 1984
The Siachin war between India and Pakistan occurred in 1984. The area of the dispute was the Siachen Glacier – the world's highest battlefield. The Glacier was under territorial dispute, but in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Pakistan began organizing several tourist expeditions to the Glacier. India, irked by this development, mounted Operation Meghdoot, and captured the top of the Glacier by establishing a military base which it still maintains to this day at a cost of more than US$1 million per day.[9] Pakistan on the other hand spends just under US$1 million per day, though as % of GDP Pakistan spends 5 times as the Indian Military does to maintain its share of the glacier.[10] Pakistan tried in 1987 and in 1989 to re-take the Glacier but was unsuccessful. A stalemate has arisen where India controls the top part of the Glacier and Pakistan is placed at the bottom of the Glacier.
Kargil war, 1999, Operation VIJAY
India fought a brief border skirmish with Pakistan in the Indian state of Kashmir in 1999. Dubbed the Kargil War, after the infiltration of Pakistani soldiers and paramilitary in the Kargil area, India reclaimed the territory partially through military and mainly through diplomatic channels. The event is regarded as one the biggest intelligence failure on the part of Indian intelligence. India lost 527 soldiers in the conflict, while Pakistan lost a little over 1600.
Other Operations
Sri Lanka mission, 1987–1990
The Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) carried out a mission in northern and eastern Sri Lanka, in 1987–1990