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Operation Searchlight was a planned, ruthless military operation launched by the Pakistan Army on the night of March 25, 1971. Its primary objective was to crush the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) by arresting or eliminating political leaders, intellectuals, and student activists who were demanding autonomy and democratic rights.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Ramanna Gowda, we have broken down the core differences that every aspirant must know for the upcoming KPSC and UPSC mains.
The roots of the operation lay in the 1970 Pakistani General Elections.
The Mandate: The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won 160 out of 162 seats in East Pakistan, securing an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
The Refusal: The ruling military junta in West Pakistan, led by General Yahya Khan, and political leaders like Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, refused to transfer power to a Bengali-led government.
The Deadlock: Following failed negotiations and a massive non-cooperation movement by Bengalis, the military decided on a “force-based solution” to maintain the unity of Pakistan.
General Yahya Khan: The President of Pakistan who ordered the crackdown.
Lieutenant General Tikka Khan: Known as the “Butcher of Bengal,” he was the Governor and Martial Law Administrator of East Pakistan responsible for the operation’s execution.
Major General Khadim Hussain Raja & Rao Farman Ali: The primary architects who drafted the operational plans in early March 1971.
The operation commenced simultaneously across major cities like Dhaka, Chittagong, and Khulna.
Targeting the Elite: The University of Dhaka was a primary target. Pakistani troops attacked Iqbal Hall and Jagannath Hall, killing hundreds of students and faculty members.
The Arrest of Mujib: Shortly before his arrest at midnight, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman reportedly declared the independence of Bangladesh.
Communications Blackout: International journalists were expelled, and local radio stations and telephone exchanges were seized to hide the atrocities from the world.
Operation Searchlight did not end the unrest; it transformed a political struggle into a full-scale Liberation War.
The Refugee Crisis: The brutal violence led to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis, with nearly 10 million refugees crossing into India, putting a massive economic strain on the Indian government.
Formation of Mukti Bahini: Bengali soldiers in the Pakistan Army and police defected to form the “Mukti Bahini” (Freedom Fighters), engaging in guerrilla warfare against West Pakistani forces.
International Reaction: While the US government (Nixon administration) remained largely silent due to Cold War dynamics, the international press (notably Anthony Mascarenhas) exposed the “Genocide,” shifting global public opinion in favor of Bangladesh.
The influx of refugees and the destabilization of India’s eastern borders eventually led to India’s military intervention in December 1971. The 13-day Indo-Pak War ended with the Surrender of Pakistan on December 16, 1971, leading to the formal creation of Bangladesh.
For the Mains exam, students should analyze Operation Searchlight through the lens of:
The Failure of Federalism: How the denial of a democratic mandate led to the disintegration of a nation.
Humanitarian Intervention: India’s role in the 1971 war as a case study for “Responsibility to Protect.”
The Role of the Diaspora: How the 1971 events shaped the Bengali identity worldwide.
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