<Li> 2016--present confrontation </Li> <P> The Indo - Pakistani War of 1971 was a military confrontation between India and Pakistan that occurred during the liberation war in East Pakistan from 3 December 1971 to the fall of Dacca (Dhaka) on 16 December 1971 . The war began with preemptive aerial strikes on 11 Indian air stations that led to the commencement of hostilities with Pakistan and Indian entry into the war of independence in East Pakistan on the side of Bengali nationalist forces . Lasting just 13 days, it is one of the shortest wars in history . </P> <P> During the war, Indian and Pakistani militaries simultaneously clashed on the eastern and western front and ended the war after the Eastern Command of Pakistan military signed the Instrument of Surrender on 16 December 1971 in Dhaka, marking the formation of East Pakistan as the new nation of Bangladesh . Officially, East Pakistan had earlier called for its secession from the unity of Pakistan on 26 March 1971 . Approximately 90,000 to 93,000 Pakistani servicemen were taken prisoners by the Indian Army which included 79,676 to 81,000 uniformed personnel of the Pakistan Armed Forces, including some Bengali soldiers who had remained loyal to Pakistan . The remaining 10,324 to 12,500 prisoners were civilians, either family members of the military personnel or collaborators (razakars). It is estimated that between 300,000 and 3,000,000 civilians were killed in Bangladesh . As a result of the conflict, a further eight to ten million people fled the country to seek refuge in India . </P> <P> The Indo - Pakistani conflict was sparked by the armed liberation struggle that was taking place in East Pakistan between the dominant Bengalis and the multi-ethnic West Pakistanis over the issue of right to governance and the constitution . The political tensions between East Bengal and West Pakistan had its origin in the times of the creation of Pakistan as a result of the partition of India by the United Kingdom in 1947, the popular language movement in 1950, mass riots in East Bengal in 1964, and eventually massive protests in 1969 that eventually led to the resignation of President Ayub Khan who invited army chief General Yahya Khan to take over the central government . The geographical distance between the eastern and western wings of Pakistan was vast as East Pakistan was over ~ 1,000 miles (1,600 km) away, which greatly hampered any attempt to integrate the Bengali culture with the cultures of West Pakistan . </P>

Who won the 1971 war between india and pakistan