Question

Discuss the causes of the Second Indo-Pak War with special reference to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

Answer 1

The Second Indo-Pak War of 1965, with special reference to the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat, was caused by several factors:

1. Rann of Kutch Dispute: The Rann of Kutch is a marshy region located on the border between India’s Gujarat state and Pakistan’s Sindh province. The area was not clearly demarcated, and Pakistan claimed it as part of its territory. In April 1965, Pakistan suddenly invaded the region, leading to armed hostilities between the two nations. Although the conflict was not large-scale initially, it increased tensions between India and Pakistan.
2. Pakistan’s Claims on Rann of Kutch: Pakistan argued that the Rann of Kutch had been historically part of the Sindh region (now in Pakistan) and had been under the control of the Sindh government in the 19th century. In contrast, India considered the Rann of Kutch as part of its territory. The skirmishes led to military clashes, but eventually, the issue was referred to an International Court of Arbitration.
3. Arbitration and Outcome: The dispute was ultimately resolved through arbitration, and the International Court of Arbitration ruled that Pakistan was awarded 350 square miles of the Rann of Kutch instead of the 3,500 square miles it originally claimed. The conflict over the Rann of Kutch ended with this resolution, but it significantly heightened the tension between India and Pakistan, eventually contributing to the broader conflict in Kashmir.
4. Kashmir Issue: The Kashmir dispute remained the central issue in Indo-Pak relations. Pakistan, emboldened by the Rann of Kutch conflict, initiated Operation Gibraltar in August 1965, which involved sending infiltrators into Kashmir to provoke an uprising. This led to a full-scale war between India and Pakistan, which became the Second Indo-Pak War of 1965.

Thus, the Rann of Kutch dispute played an important role in escalating tensions between India and Pakistan, ultimately contributing to the Second Indo-Pak War over the Kashmir issue.