The Indo-Pakistani Naval War of 1971 refers to the maritime military engagements between the Indian Navy and the Pakistan Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The India–Pakistan hostilities during this time period were a direct result of the Bangladesh Liberation War, which had been ongoing in erstwhile East Pakistan (present-day Bangladesh) since the Pakistan Army's execution of Operation Searchlight in an effort to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in Pakistan's eastern wing. The series of naval operations began with the Indian Navy's exertion of pressure on Pakistan from the Indian Ocean, while the Indian Army and Indian Air Force moved in to choke Pakistani forces operating in East Pakistan on land. Indian naval operations comprised naval interdiction, air defence, ground su