India Pakistan War List, 1947, 1965, 1971, 1999, Operation Sindoor

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The India Pakistan War List outlines the key conflicts between India and Pakistan since their 1947 independence. This timeline covers the Indo Pakistan War 1947, Indo Pakistan War 1965, Indo Pakistan War 1971, and the Kargil War 1999.

India Pakistan War List: Indo Pakistan War 1947 (First Kashmir War)

Partition in August 1947 left the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) undecided. In October 1947, tribal militias from Pakistan invaded Kashmir to force accession to Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh of Kashmir then signed the Instrument of Accession with India, prompting Indian military intervention. The resulting conflict (Oct 1947–Dec 1948) was the First Indo Pakistan War (often called the First Kashmir War). After months of fighting, the United Nations brokered a ceasefire on January 1, 1949. India retained about two-thirds of J&K (including the Kashmir Valley, Jammu and Ladakh) and Pakistan held roughly one-third (Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan). Both sides suffered heavy losses, with thousands killed and wounded, though exact figures vary.

• Major operations and events: Pakistani-sponsored tribal invasion (codenamed Operation Gulmarg) began Oct 1947; India airlifted troops to Srinagar. In 1948, India launched counter-offensives (Operations Gulab and Eraze) to clear invaders from Kashmir.
• Political context: The war began soon after Partition; Kashmir’s Muslim-majority populace and Hindu ruler’s indecision fueled the conflict. India took the Kashmir case to the UN, leading to Resolutions and a ceasefire.

India Pakistan War List: Indo Pakistan War 1965

Friction over Kashmir and other border disputes led to war again in 1965. In August 1965 Pakistan launched Operation Gibraltar: infiltrating troops into Indian-administered Kashmir to incite insurgency. India responded with a full-scale counterattack across the Western front. Major battles occurred in Punjab (Battle of Asal Uttar) and near Sialkot and Lahore. The fighting lasted just over two weeks. A UN-mediated ceasefire came into effect on September 22, 1965, followed by the Tashkent Declaration (Jan 1966) where both sides agreed to withdraw to pre-war positions.

• Operations: Pakistan: Operation Gibraltar (infiltration, Aug 1965) and Operation Grand Slam (offensive in Jammu sector); India: Operation Riddle (counter-attack in Punjab) and Operation Ablaze (air strikes).
• Outcome: Status quo ante bellum (pre-war lines restored). Both countries claimed victory; India held an edge by ceasefire time.
• Casualties: Both India and Pakistan suffered thousands of military casualties (killed and wounded).

India Pakistan War List: Indo Pakistan War 1971 (Bangladesh Liberation War)

The Indo Pakistan War 1971 arose from a humanitarian and political crisis in Pakistan’s eastern wing (East Pakistan). After Pakistan’s military crackdown (Operation Searchlight) on Bengali civilians in March 1971, millions fled to India. India initially supported the Bengali independence movement. On December 3, 1971, Pakistan launched pre-emptive strikes on India (Operation Chengiz Khan) on the Western front. India responded with full-scale war on both fronts.

• Course: India rapidly advanced into East Pakistan. In the west, Pakistani attacks in Punjab and Sindh were contained by the Indian Army. India gained territory (over 15,000 km²) in the west (later returned by Simla Agreement).
• Outcome: Decisive Indian victory. On December 16, 1971, Pakistani Eastern Command (90,000+ troops) surrendered to Indian-Bangladeshi forces. East Pakistan became the independent nation of Bangladesh. War ended formally on Dec 17, 1971.
• Casualties: Pakistan lost about 8,000 killed and 25,000 wounded; India suffered roughly 3,000 killed and 12,000 wounded.

Also Read: List of Missiles of India

India Pakistan War List: Kargil War 1999 (Operation Vijay)

The Kargil War 1999 (Indo Pakistan War 1999) was the first conflict between the two nuclear-armed states. In early 1999 Pakistan’s forces and Kashmiri militants infiltrated high-altitude posts on the Indian side of the Line of Control (LOC) in Kargil (codenamed Operation Badr). India detected the intrusion in May 1999 and launched Operation Vijay (army push) and Operation Safed Sagar (air support) to evict the intruders. Fierce battles were fought for strategic peaks like Tololing and Tiger Hill. Heavy artillery and air strikes were used to dislodge entrenched forces.

• Timeline: Infiltration reported Feb 1999; India’s Operation Vijay began May 10, 1999. Tiger Hill and Tololing peaks were recaptured by early July. Diplomatic pressure (e.g. U.S. mediation at Washington, July 4) led Pakistan to withdraw from remaining posts by July 11. India declared Operation Vijay a success by July 14; the war officially ended July 26, 1999.
• Outcome: Status quo ante. India reasserted control over all posts on its side of the LOC. The Kargil conflict did not alter international borders but led to heightened tensions.
• Casualties: India suffered ~527 killed and ~1,363 wounded. Pakistani casualties are disputed: official counts ~453 killed, but independent estimates suggest around 700–1,200.

India Pakistan War List: Aftermath and Continuing Tensions

After 1999, large-scale war has been avoided, but India and Pakistan remain in a state of military readiness. Periodic skirmishes, proxy conflicts (e.g. 2001–02 Kargil II standoff, 2008 Mumbai attacks) have kept tensions high. The Simla Agreement (1972) and subsequent ceasefire lines (LoC) have generally held, though violations occur.

In recent years, the rivalry persists. For example, in 2025 India announced “Operation Sindoor”, an air campaign targeting terror camps in Pakistan after a militant attack. (The veracity and results of Operation Sindoor remain disputed in media reports.) This highlights that the military-political context of India–Pakistan conflict continues to evolve.

Also Read: Operation Sindoor and Civil Defence Preparedness in India

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India Pakistan War List FAQs

How many wars have India and Pakistan fought?

 India and Pakistan have fought four major wars: in 1947, 1965, 1971, and 1999.

What was the main cause of the 1947 India Pakistan war?

 The 1947 war began over the disputed accession of Jammu and Kashmir after Partition.

Which war led to the creation of Bangladesh?

The 1971 Indo Pakistan war resulted in the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan.

What happened in the Kargil War 1999?

 Pakistani troops and militants infiltrated Indian positions in Kargil; India recaptured the territory after intense fighting.

What is Operation Sindoor?

Operation Sindoor refers to an Indian airstrike campaign in 2025 targeting terror camps in Pakistan after a militant attack.