The Dark Truth of 1971: Operation Searchlight
The Dark Truth of 1971: Operation Searchlight Operation Searchlight was a military operation launched by the Pakistani Army in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in March 1971. The reason behind this operation was to suppress the Bengali nationalist movement for independence, which had been gaining momentum in the region. This operation led to widespread atrocities, including mass killings and rape, and is considered to be one of the major causes of the Bangladeshi War of Independence and the subsequent creation of Bangladesh. What actually happened? Before this operation, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) was a source of tension between the two wings of Pakistan since the country’s formation in 1947. The East Pakistanis, who were mostly Bengali-speaking, felt neglected and marginalized by the West Pakistani-dominated government. This led to the rise of Bengali nationalist movements, which called for greater autonomy and even independence for East Pakistan. The Start of the Operation On