How India almost went to war for Bangladeshi Hindus

India once stood on the brink of war to protect Hindus fleeing violence in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). The 1950 Nehru-Liaquat Pact averted conflict. History echoes as new crises unfold on the same borders today. Watch the latest episode of Threadbare

Recent political turmoil in Bangladesh has resulted in widespread violence, especially targeting the Hindu minority. Following the fall of Sheikh Hasina's government last week, the country has been plunged into chaos, with riots and violence spreading across the nation. Thousands of Hindu refugees have begun making their way to the India-Bangladesh border, seeking asylum. As India grapples with this humanitarian crisis, it’s worth reflecting on a similar situation that nearly brought India to war over seven decades ago.

The story of India’s near-war for the Hindus of Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) begins in the aftermath of the 1947 Partition. The creation of East Pakistan carved out a nation with a substantial Hindu population, estimated to be between 20-30% of its total. However, the existence of Hindus in East Pakistan was fraught with uncertainty and danger.

The Partition had already displaced millions and led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands in communal violence. These religious tensions resurfaced violently in East Pakistan in December 1949. A clash between security forces and a Hindu village in Khulna spiralled into a massive, organised assault on Hindus across the region. Soon, large numbers of persecuted Hindus began fleeing toward the Indian border in search of safety.

THE GROWING CRISIS AND RISING TENSIONS

By February 1950, just two months after the initial violence, approximately 24,000 Hindus had crossed into West Bengal, with hundreds more arriving daily. The harrowing accounts of the atrocities they faced fueled anger and outrage across India. The escalating refugee crisis triggered massive anti-Muslim riots in West Bengal, particularly in North and Central Kolkata. As communal violence engulfed the region, thousands of Muslims fled to East Pakistan, prompting even more severe retaliatory violence against Hindus there.

With the spectre of Partition’s horrors looming large, Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and his cabinet were forced to intervene. The Indian public, media, and political factions, particularly the Hindu Mahasabha, clamoured for military action to punish Pakistan and protect the Hindu population in East Pakistan.

DIPLOMATIC OVERTURES AND MILITARY THREATS

Amid this mounting pressure, Nehru sought a diplomatic solution. He reached out to Pakistan’s Prime Minister, Liaquat Ali Khan, proposing that both leaders visit the violence-affected areas together to assess the situation and demonstrate a united front for peace. Nehru believed that such a joint effort would symbolise a commitment to stability and help ease the crisis displacing thousands each day.

However, Pakistan was hesitant to collaborate. The Pakistani government feared that a fact-finding mission would expose its mishandling of the crisis in East Pakistan. Additionally, Liaquat Ali Khan was concerned about appearing weak by complying with India’s suggestions, even declaring to students that he would "rather see every one of us die than see ourselves slaves of Hindu India."

With diplomatic avenues blocked, the pressure on Nehru to consider military action increased. Critics within the Congress Party and even pacifist Gandhians began to view Nehru’s policy as overly conciliatory. Some called for military intervention, while others suggested a population exchange between India and Pakistan.

INDIA MOBILISES FOR WAR

In February 1950, Nehru delivered a stern warning to Pakistan in Parliament, making it clear that India could not remain indifferent to the violence in East Pakistan. Despite his strong rhetoric, Nehru was determined to avoid war. He ordered the mobilisation of India’s armed forces along the borders with East and West Pakistan, hoping that the threat of invasion would compel Pakistan to take action.

By early March, India had begun moving armoured divisions toward its western border with Pakistan, while also strengthening its position in the east. The Indian Defence Committee met on March 10 to discuss potential invasion plans, with military advisers cautioning that such a move could lead to a full-scale war. Nehru continued to pursue diplomatic efforts, reaching out to global powers like Britain and the United States, informing them of India’s readiness to act if Pakistan did not protect its Hindu citizens.

THE TURNING POINT

Despite Nehru’s efforts, the situation worsened as the number of Hindu refugees swelled to over 200,000 by March 1950. Pakistan remained unwilling to engage diplomatically, and neither America nor Britain believed that India would actually go to war. However, the situation took a dramatic turn when Pakistani intelligence detected India’s troop mobilisation. Fearing an imminent attack, Pakistan mobilised its army and sought urgent assistance from the United States and Britain to prevent Indian aggression.

India allowed Pakistan to believe that it was indeed ready for war, refusing to back down despite pressure from Western diplomats. Then, riots erupted in India, targeting Muslims in retaliation for the crisis in East Pakistan. Among the victims was an Englishman named A.L. Cameron, who was killed while defending his Muslim driver. Cameron’s death shocked the nation and discredited those advocating for a violent resolution.

THE NEHRU-LIAQUAT PACT: A DIPLOMATIC RESOLUTION

Seizing the moment, Nehru renewed his diplomatic appeal to Liaquat Ali Khan, inviting him to India for talks. This time, Khan accepted. On April 2, 1950, he arrived in New Delhi for a week of negotiations, which culminated in the historic Nehru-Liaquat Pact. Under this agreement, both India and Pakistan committed to protecting the rights of minority communities within their respective countries. The pact included provisions for aiding refugees, punishing those responsible for violence, and restoring looted property.

With the signing of the Nehru-Liaquat Pact, the immediate crisis was resolved. However, it came at a significant cost, with over a million Hindus from East Pakistan forced to flee to India. As India faces yet another refugee crisis on its borders, this episode serves as a powerful reminder of how close the nation once came to war in its efforts to protect persecuted minorities.