India Pakistan War List 1947 to 2025
India and Pakistan have had a tense relationship ever since the partition in 1947. The division of British India into two nations led to the first of many military conflicts. These wars have shaped the geopolitics of South Asia and continue to impact both nations even today. India-Pakistan War List Overview War/Conflict Year Cause Outcome Indian Casualties First Kashmir War 1947–1948 Tribal invasion of J&K LoC established; J&K split ~1,500 Second War 1965 Operation Gibraltar Ceasefire; Tashkent Agreement Several thousand Bangladesh Liberation 1971 Crisis in East Pakistan Bangladesh created; 90,000 PoWs taken ~3,800 Kargil War 1999 Infiltration in Kargil sector India regained all positions 500+ Siachen Conflict 1984–ongoing Strategic glacier occupation India holds glacier till today Hundreds over decades Surgical Strikes 2016 Uri terror attack Indian troops struck terror camps Classified Balakot Air Strike 2019 Pulwama attack Indian jets bombed terrorist hideouts None reported List of India-Pakistan Wars in Chronological Order 1. First India-Pakistan War (1947–1948) – The First Kashmir War Cause: Tribal militias supported by Pakistan invaded Jammu and Kashmir, fearing its accession to India. Key Events: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession with India. Indian troops were flown in to defend the state. Result: A ceasefire was declared on January 1, 1949, under the UN’s supervision. The Line of Control (LoC) was established. Outcome: India retained about two-thirds of J&K; Pakistan took control of Gilgit-Baltistan and what it calls ‘Azad Kashmir’. Casualties: Approx. 1,500 Indian soldiers lost their lives. 2. Second India-Pakistan War (1965) – Operation Gibraltar Cause: Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar to incite rebellion in Kashmir by sending disguised soldiers. Key Events: India launched a full-scale counter-offensive across Punjab and Kashmir regions. Result: A ceasefire was brokered by the Soviet Union and USA. Tashkent Agreement signed in 1966. Outcome: Status quo restored. No major territorial changes, but India was seen to have the upper hand. Casualties: Thousands dead on both sides. One of the largest tank battles since WWII occurred. 3. Third India-Pakistan War (1971) – Bangladesh Liberation War Cause: Political crisis in East Pakistan and India’s support for the Bengali independence movement. Key Events: India intervened after millions of refugees poured into India and Pakistan launched a pre-emptive strike. Result: India achieved a historic military victory. Bangladesh was created as an independent country. Outcome: Over 90,000 Pakistani troops surrendered. Considered one of India's biggest victories. Casualties: Around 3,800 Indian soldiers were martyred. 4. Kargil War (1999) – Operation Vijay Cause: Pakistani soldiers and militants secretly occupied Indian posts in the Kargil sector of Jammu & Kashmir. Key Events: Intense high-altitude warfare followed. India launched Operation Vijay to retake the captured peaks. Result: Indian Army regained control within two months. Pakistan faced international criticism. Outcome: Kargil was a major diplomatic and military victory for India. Casualties: Over 500 Indian soldiers martyred. War Heroes: Capt. Vikram Batra, Lt. Manoj Pandey, and others became national icons. Other Conflicts & Military Standoffs Siachen Conflict (1984 – Present): India took control of the Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield, to prevent Pakistan's advancement. This has led to ongoing military presence in extreme conditions.Surgical Strikes (2016): After the Uri attack, India conducted surgical strikes across LoC to destroy terror launch pads. Balakot Air Strikes (2019): Following the Pulwama terror attack, Indian Air Force struck terror camps in Balakot, deep inside Pakistan territory.
India and Pakistan have had a tense relationship ever since the partition in 1947. The division of British India into two nations led to the first of many military conflicts. These wars have shaped the geopolitics of South Asia and continue to impact both nations even today. India-Pakistan War List Overview War/Conflict Year Cause Outcome Indian Casualties First Kashmir War 1947–1948 Tribal invasion of J&K LoC established; J&K split ~1,500 Second War 1965 Operation Gibraltar Ceasefire; Tashkent Agreement Several thousand Bangladesh Liberation 1971 Crisis in East Pakistan Bangladesh created; 90,000 PoWs taken ~3,800 Kargil War 1999 Infiltration in Kargil sector...