List of wars involving India

This is a list of wars involving the Republic of India and its predecessors.

For simplicity, this list only includes major powers in the Indian Subcontinent.

 Magadhan Empire(s) 
List of conflicts involving the Mauryan Empire.
 Name of conflict Mauryan Empireand allies Opponents OutcomeNanda-Mauryan WarNanda EmpireChandragupta Maurya
ChanakyaDefeat
 Formation of the Mauryan Empire over the annexed Magadha territories.Seleucid-Mauryan WarMauryan EmpireSeleucid EmpireVictory
 Seleucid cedes areas of Baluchistan and Eastern Afghanistan.Kalinga WarMauryan EmpireKalingaVictory
 Annexation of Kalinga.

 Gupta Empire 
List of conflicts involving the Gupta Empire.
 Name of conflict Gupta Empireand allies Opponents OutcomeFirst North Indian Campaign of SamudraguptaGupta EmpireAryavarta KingdomsVictory
 Unification of the Ganges ValleySouth Indian Campaign of SamudraguptaGupta EmpireDakshinpatha KingdomsVictory
 Conquest of eastern coastal Deccan region as far as Kanchi.Second North Indian Campaign of SamudraguptaGupta EmpireAryavarta KingdomsVictoryHunnic WarsGupta EmpireAlchon HunsVictory
 British Indian Empire (c. 1857 to 1947 CE) 

Following the Indian Rebellion of 1857, the rule of the British East India company came to end and the British crown began to rule over India directly as per the Government of India Act 1858. India was now a single empire comprising British India and the princely states.

 Name of conflict Indiaand allies Opponents OutcomeSecond Opium War(1856–1860) British Empire

 French EmpireVictory
Treaties of Tientsin.Ambela Campaign(1863–1864)Afghan Pashtuns
 24px Yousafzai tribeDefeat
Failure to subdue Afghan tribal area
Forced British withdrawal from BunerBhutan War(1864–1865)BhutanVictory
Bhutanese territorial cessions to India.British Expedition to Abyssinia(1867–1868) United Kingdom25px|border Ethiopian EmpireVictory
British victory at the Battle of Magdala, Theodore II commits suicide.Second Anglo-Afghan War(1878–1880) United Kingdom25px|border AfghanistanVictory
Treaty of Gandamak, British objectives attained.
Afghanistan's tribal frontier areas annexed into British India.
Afghanistan becomes a British Protectorate.Mahdist War(1881–1899)border|25px Congo Free State United Kingdom

 Egypt27px Ethiopia Mahdist SudanVictory
Sudan became an Anglo-Egyptian condominium.Anglo-Egyptian War(1882) United Kingdom

Ahmed Orabi exiled, British occupation of Egypt.Third Anglo-Burmese War(1885)border|25px Burmese EmpireVictory
The province of Burma became part of India.Third Black Mountain Expedition(1888)Yousafzai
 Hassanzai
 Akazai  Victory
Allaiwal village of Pokal occupied and destroyed.Sikkim Expedition(1888) TibetVictory
Tibetan forces expelled from Sikkim.Hunza-Nagar Campaign(1891)HunzaNagarVictory
The British gained control of Hunza and Nagar.Chitral Expedition(1895)Chitralis Bajouri and Afghan TribesmenVictory
Fort of Chitral relieved.Anglo-Zanzibar War(1896) Zanzibar SultanateVictory
End of the Sultanate of Zanzibar.
Zanzibar ceded to the British Empire.Tochi Expedition(1896)WaziriVictory
Rebellion put down.Siege of Malakand(1897)پشتون Pashtun tribesVictory
 Rebellion defeatedFirst Mohmand Campaign(1897–1898)MohmandVictory
Punitive expedition successful.Tirah Campaign(1897–1898)AfridiOrakzaiTsamkaniVictory
Negotiations for peace were then begun with the Afridis.Boxer Rebellion(1899–1901) Empire of Japan Russia United Kingdom

 France Germany Italy Yihetuan MovementVictory
The rebellion was suppressed.
Signing of the Boxer Protocol.
Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing.Second Boer War(1899–1902) 25px|border British Cape Colony
 25px|border Natal Colony
 25px|border Rhodesia




 Victory
Treaty of Vereeniging, British sovereignty over The Orange Free State and the Transvaal.British expedition to Tibet(1903–1904)Victory
Treaty enforced, return to status quo.Bambatha Rebellion(1906) United KingdomZulu peopleVictory
Rebellion suppressedBazar Valley Campaign(1908)Zakka Khel clan of the AfridiVictory
Rebellion suppressedWorld War I(1914–1918) United Kingdom





 Russia Hejaz Chinaborder|25px Brazil Kingdom of NepalVictory
 End of the German, Russian, Ottoman, and Austro-Hungarian empires
 Formation of new countries in Europe and the Middle East
 Transfer of German colonies and regions of the former Ottoman Empire to other powers
 Establishment of the League of NationsAllied intervention in the Russian Civil War(1918–1920) White Movement British Empire





 France China Latvian SSR Ukrainian SSR Commune of Estonia Mongolian communistsWithdrawal
 Allied withdrawal from Russia.
 Bolshevik victory over White Army.Turkish War of Independence(1919–1923) Pontic Rebels
 France
 French Armenian Legion
 French West Africa
 Armenia United Kingdom

 Istanbul Government
 Kuva-yi Inzibatiye
 Italy Georgia Ankara Government
 Kuva-yi Nizamiye
 Kuva-yi MilliyeDefeatChester Neal Tate, Governments of the world: a global guide to citizens' rights and responsibilities, Macmillan Reference USA/Thomson Gale, 2006, p. 205.
Armistice of Mudanya.
Overthrow of the Ottoman sultanate.
Treaty of Lausanne.
Withdrawal of Allied forces from occupied lands of Turkey.
Establishment of the Republic of Turkey.Third Anglo-Afghan War(1919) United Kingdom25px|border AfghanistanArmistice
Treaty of Rawalpindi
Afghan invasion repelled.
Afghanistan regains control of external affairs.
Reaffirmation of the Durand Line.First Waziristan Campaign(1919)25px|border WaziristanVictory
Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.Kuwait–Najd War(1919–1920) United Kingdom

23px Kuwaitborder|25px Sultanate of Nejd
25px IkhwanVictory
Ikhawan retreat.Iraqi revolt(1920) United Kingdom Iraqi rebelsVictory
Faisal I of Iraq installed as the King of Iraq.Malabar rebellion(1921)Mappila MuslimsVictory
Rebellion suppressed.Pink's War(1925)Mahsud tribesmenVictory
Tribal leaders accept terms.Second Mohmand Campaign(1935)MohmandVictory
Jirga and peace.Second Waziristan Campaign(1936–1939)25px|border Waziri tribesmenVictory
Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.World War II(1939–1945) France22px|border Polandborder|25px Republican Spain25px FTMborder|25px British Burmaborder|25px Egyptborder|25px Sudanborder|25px Nigeria Philippines Ethiopiaborder|25px Brazilborder|25px Cuba Mongoliaborder|25px Viet Minhborder|25px KLA Kingdom of Nepal border|25px Vichy France Hungary Slovakiaborder|25px Bohemia and Moraviaborder|25px Kingdom of Albaniaborder|25px German Albania Thailandborder|25px Azad Hindborder|25px Japanese BurmaVictory
 Collapse of the Third Reich
 Fall of Japanese and Italian Empires
 Creation of the United Nations
 Emergence of the United States and the Soviet Union as superpowers
 Beginning of the Cold WarWestern Desert Campaign(1940–1943) Sudan


Supported by:Victory
 Allied VictoryEast African Campaign(1940–1943) 


  Kenya
  Nigeria



  Uganda


  Sudan



  French Equatorial Africa 

Supported by:Victory
 Collapse of Italian East AfricaAnglo-Soviet invasion of Iran
(1941) United Kingdom

 Abdication of Reza Shah, Allied occupation of Iran.Indonesian National Revolution(1945–1947) Netherlands United Kingdom Indonesia British Indian withdrawal after Indian independence in 1947.
Independent India's entry into the revolution.
The Netherlands recognises Indonesian independence.Operation Masterdom(1945–1946) United Kingdom

 France Japanborder|25px Viet MinhVictory
Start of the First Indochina War, lasting until the Geneva Conference of 1954.

 Independent India (c.  1947–present) 
In 1947, the British Indian Empire split into the Dominion of Pakistan and the Dominion of India. The Indian Army, the Royal Indian Air Force and the Royal Indian Navy too, were divided between the two countries. In 1950, the Union of India became the Republic of India after abolishing monarchy.

 Name of conflict Indiaand allies Opponents OutcomeIndo-Pakistani War of 1947(1947–1948)25px|border Jammu and Kashmir25px Furqan ForceCeasefire
 Partitioning of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan as Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Kashmir.Integration of Junagadh(1947) JunagadhVictory
 Annexation of Junagadh into IndiaOperation Polo(1948) HyderabadVictory
 Annexation of Hyderabad into IndiaKorean War(1950–1953) United Nations
Supported by:











  SpainSupported by:




 Stalemate
 Formation of the DMZAnnexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli(1954) PortugalVictory
 Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli into India Congo Crisis(1960–1964) 1960–63:
 Republic of the Congo

Supported by:
 (1960)
 ONUC 1960–63:

Supported by:

1960–62:
 Stanleyville government
Supported by: Victory
 Debellation of the State of KatangaAnnexation of Goa(1961) PortugalVictory
 Annexation of Goa, Daman and Diu into IndiaSino-Indian War of 1962(1962)DefeatInsurgency in Northeast India(1964–) (joined in 2003)  (joined in 1971)
 (joined in 2018)border|25px ATTF
 KLNLF
 PLA
 UNLF
and others...Ongoing
 Ongoing low-level insurgency
 Re-annexation of those areas of Mizoram, Tripura and Meghalaya held by militants. 
 Bhutanese victory in Operation All Clear
 Introduction of AFSPA in seven north-eastern states, later repealed in Tripurahttp://www.asianage.com/debate/age-debate-after-tripura-it-time-revoke-afspa-jammu-and-kashmir-922   and Meghalaya.Indo-Pakistani War of 1965(1965)Stalemate
 United Nations mandated ceasefire
  India had an upper hand in the war
 No permanent territorial changes (see Tashkent Declaration)Naxalite–Maoist insurgency(1967–) Communist Party of India (Maoist)
 People's Liberation Guerrilla Army
 Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Janashakti
 Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Naxalbari (until 2014)
 Communist Party of United States of India
 Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) New Democracy
 Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) (Mahadev Mukherjee)
 People's Liberation Army of Manipur
 Purbo Banglar Communist Party
Centre of Indian Communists 
Tamil Nadu Liberation Army

Supported by:
 Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)
New People's ArmyAsia Times Online :: Southeast Asia news and business from Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. Atimes.com (2010-04-22). Retrieved on 2014-05-21.Ongoing
 Indian victory in Operation Steeplechase
 Quelling of the insurgency on a large scale via Operation Green HuntNathu La and Cho La clashes(1967)Victory
 Chinese withdrawal from the Kingdom of SikkimBangladesh Liberation War( From March 1971)& Indo-Pakistani War of 1971( From Dec 1971) Bangladesh

Supported by:Supported by:Victory
 Pakistani surrender in East Pakistan
 Independence of BangladeshThe First JVP insurrection(1971) Ceylon
 United Front ()
 SLFP
 CCP (Pro-Soviet)
LSSP

 Australia Egypt India Pakistan Singapore Soviet Union United Kingdom United States Yugoslavia China JVP

Supported by: (alleged) ASBPIborder|25px CCP (Maoist) (alleged)Victory
Rebel forces surrender
Ceylonese government reestablishes control over entire islandSiachen conflict(1984–2003)Victory
 Annexation of the Siachen Glacier into India following Operation Meghdoot
 India captures Quaid Post / Bana Top during Operation Rajiv
 Ceasefire since 2003Operation Blue Star (1984)Supported by: border|25px Sikh militantsVictory
 Indian forces suffer high casualtiesInsurgency in Punjab (1984–1995)Supported by: border|25px Sikh militants

Supported by:   Victory
 Militancy defeatedOperation Flowers are Blooming(1986)25px|border Military of SeychellesVictory
 Aversion of the coup
 Resignation of BerlouisThe Second JVP insurrection(1987–1989) Sri Lanka  India 
Military support:






  JVP Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya IUSF

Supported by:



  ASBPI
  PLOTE 
  SLFPVictory 
 Emergency conditions in South-western and Central provinces of Sri Lanka lifted
 Insurgency declined following the fall of the Eastern blocSri Lankan Civil War(1987–1990) Liberation Tigers of Tamil EelamWithdrawal
 Withdrawal of Indian peace-keeping forces from Sri Lanka
 Continuation of the Sri Lankan Civil WarOperation Cactus(1988) Maldives25px|border PLOTE Maldivian rebelsVictory
 Restoration of government rule in MaldivesInsurgency in Jammu and Kashmir(1989–) border|22px Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami

Supported by:

 Taliban
 Ongoing low-level Insurgency
 Enforcement of AFSPA in Jammu and KashmirTajikistani Civil War (1992–1997)  UNMOT








Non-UNMOT:23px|border United Tajik Opposition TalibanVictory
 United Nations - armisticeUnited Nations Operation in Somalia II(1993–1995)
(Part of the Somali Civil War)(1991–) UNOSOM II

 Civil war is ongoingKargil War(1999)Victory
 India regains possession of Kargil
No territorial changesOperation Ocean Shield(2009–2016)Non-NATO:PiratesVictory
 Number of Somali pirate attacks have been reduced dramatically.China–India skirmishes(2020–21)Stalemate
 Both sides pulled back their troops from the face-off points. 

 References 


Wars