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Since both nations achieved independence in August 1947, there have been three major wars and one minor war between India and Pakistan. All the wars fought between the two nations were over the disputed area of Kashmir with the only exception being in 1971, where the cause of friction between the two nations was over the Genocide and the resulting problems in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh).

The Wars in chronological order

• Indo-Pakistani War of 1947
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
• Indo-Pakistani War of 1999

Origins of conflict

The root of most conflicts and the mutual hatred lies in Kashmir and in the manner in which its political alignment was decided by the two countries following partition in 1947. Kashmir was ruled by a Hindu Maharajah, who resided over a large muslim majority and tried to make Kashmir an independent state. However, the ruling of the Last British Viceroy of India, Lord Mountbatten placed Kashmir in Indian hands. However, after the withdrawal of British power, tribal unrest in Kashmir began, these then escalated to the national scale. The result being that the First Kashmir War broke out between the two new born nations. The war lasted for more than a year with both nations claiming significant success. As the war was ended by a UN ceasefire, India retained just under three-fifths of Kashmir and importantly the most fertile part of it including the Kashmir Valley. Pakistan gained two-fifths of Kashmir, including the Karakorum Range and Hunza and Gilgit Valleys.

The Second Kashmir War again involved the issue of Kashmir with Pakistan using covert methods to infiltrate its troops inside and start a rebellion in Jammu and Kashmir, India (See Operation Gibraltar) The plan was a non-starter and provoked India into launching a formal attack on Pakistan igniting the war. The war ended in stalemate with both sides gaining territory and suffering heavy losses.

The third war was unique in that it did not involve the issue of Kashmir but was entirely about East Pakistan and the crisis brewing there. After months of internal conflict India decided to help the Bengalis in East Pakistan much to the consternation of West Pakistan. Within just a fortnight the rebels (Bengali forces) and the Indian Military had decisively defeated and forced a surrender upon Pakistan. The result of this war was the creation of Bangladesh from East Pakistan, leaving what was known formally to be West Pakistan to become the Pakistan known today. Strangely, for a humiliating defeat, Pakistan actually prospered out of the aftermath as it lost it's most diaster prone and economically backward region.

The latest war, the Kargil War, was minor and very much an unoffical war. It was confined only to Indian controlled kashmir, although it produced stirring emotions between the two nations, coming at a time of increased media and electronic coverage. The Kargil conflict involved infiltration similar to previous Pakistani attempts that failed once again. The war ended in a victory for India. The withdrawal of Pakistan from its occupation was seen both as a politico-diplomatic triumph as much as a military success.

Other conflicts

Apart from the aforementioned wars, there have been skirmishes between the two nations from time to time. Some have bordered on an all out war whilst others were pretty limited in conflict. In 1984 there an issue as both nations attempted to control the Siachen Glacier. Further clashes erupted in the glacial area in 1987 as Pakistan sought to oust India from its stronghold without success. The very next year Operation Brasstacks was conducted by India. This miliatry exercise - the largest of its kind in South Asia - raised eyebrows in the diplomatic world and was feared to lead to another war between the two neighbours. The 2002 parliamentary attacks by Pakistan based terrorists fighting for the Kashmiri cause prompted India on a military and diplomatic offensive and was believed by many military analysts as the push towards a war.

• Indo-Pakistan Wars