why was the conflict between two superpowers called the cold war

The third Indo-Pakistani war took place when Pakistan erupted into civil war, pitting West Pakistan against East Pakistan, who demanded independence.

The war ended in January 1966 when officials from India and Pakistan signed a declaration affirming their commitment to peace.ĭecember 1971: When India and Pakistan became their own countries, Pakistan was split into two parts – East Pakistan and West Pakistan.

Hostilities broke out in August when Pakistani soldiers crossed the Line of Control into Indian-administered Kashmir in an attempt to start an insurgency against India ( Operation Gibraltar). 1, 1949 and a ceasefire line was established – now called the Line of Control.Īugust 1965: The second Indo-Pakistani war was sparked by a series of clashes across the India-Pakistani border. Kashmir turned to India for military assistance and in return agreed to hand over powers of defense, communication and foreign affairs, acceding to India. October 1947 – January 1949: The first Indo-Pakistani war began following an invasion of Kashmir by armed tribesmen from Pakistan. The Jammu and Kashmir regions have been disputed since partition, with Pakistan and India both claiming ownership. Hundreds of thousands of people were killed in communal violence resulting in an atmosphere of hostility that has remained for decades. The provincial division was based on Hindu and Muslim majorities, which caused mass migration for those that did not live in the majorities.

Here is a brief history of the conflict between the two countries.Īugust 1947: Following the end of British rule, British India was partitioned into India and Pakistan. Neither country has used nuclear weapons in conflict, but many experts fear that the ongoing crisis could escalate beyond conventional weapons use. India became a nuclear power in 1974, and Pakistan became a nuclear power in 1998. The countries have fought a series of wars since gaining their independence from Great Britain in 1947, largely over the Kashmir region, to which both countries lay claim. The history between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers, is inextricably linked.

Why was the conflict between two superpowers called the cold war