List of wars involving India

This is a list of wars involving the Republic of India and its past political entities, this list excludes historical empires in the Indian subcontinent.

British Indian Empire (c. 1857 to 1947 CE)

See the main article: British Raj

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.

  British Indian defeat

  British Indian victory

  Another result (e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum, result of civil or internal conflict, result unknown or indecisive)

Name of conflict	India and allies	Opponents	Outcome
Second Opium War (1856–1860)	British Empire United Kingdom India French Empire	China	Victory Treaties of Tientsin.
Ambela Campaign (1863–1864)	India	Afghan Pashtuns File:Umbeyla Eusofzai tribal revolt.png Yousafzai tribe	Defeat Failure to subdue Afghan tribal area Forced British withdrawal from Buner
Bhutan War (1864–1865)	India	Bhutan	Victory Bhutanese territorial cessions to India.
British Expedition to Abyssinia (1867–1868)	United Kingdom India	File:Flag of Ethiopia (1897-1936; 1941-1974).svg Ethiopian Empire	Victory British victory at the Battle of Magdala, Theodore II commits suicide.
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880)	United Kingdom India	File:Flag of Afghanistan pre-1901.svg Afghanistan	Victory Treaty of Gandamak, British objectives attained. Afghanistan's tribal frontier areas annexed into British India. Afghanistan becomes a British Protectorate.
Mahdist War (1881–1899)	File:Flag of the Congo Free State.svg Congo Free State United Kingdom India Egypt File:Ethiopian Pennants.svg Ethiopia	Mahdist Sudan	Victory Sudan became an Anglo-Egyptian condominium.
Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)	United Kingdom India File:Flag of Egypt (1882-1922).svg Tewfik Pasha	File:Egypt flag 1882.svg Ahmed Orabi	Victory Ahmed Orabi exiled, British occupation of Egypt.
Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885)	India	File:Flag of the Alaungpaya Dynasty of Myanmar.svg Burmese Empire	Victory The province of Burma became part of India.
Third Black Mountain Expedition (1888)	India	Yousafzai Hassanzai Akazai	Victory Allaiwal village of Pokal occupied and destroyed.
Sikkim Expedition (1888)	India	Tibet	Victory Tibetan forces expelled from Sikkim.
Hunza-Nagar Campaign (1891)	India	Hunza Nagar	Victory The British gained control of Hunza and Nagar.
Chitral Expedition (1895)	India	Chitralis Bajouri and Afghan Tribesmen	Victory Fort of Chitral relieved.
Anglo-Zanzibar War (1896)	British Empire India	Zanzibar Sultanate	Victory End of the Sultanate of Zanzibar. Zanzibar ceded to the British Empire.
Tochi Expedition (1896)	India	Waziri	Victory Rebellion put down.
Siege of Malakand (1897)	India	پشتون Pashtun tribes	Victory Rebellion defeated
First Mohmand Campaign (1897–1898)	India	Mohmand	Victory Punitive expedition successful.
Tirah Campaign (1897–1898)	India	Afridi Orakzai Tsamkani	Victory Negotiations for peace were then begun with the Afridis.
Boxer Rebellion (1899–1901)	Empire of Japan Russia United Kingdom India France United States Germany Austria-Hungary Italy	Yihetuan Movement China	Victory The rebellion was suppressed. Signing of the Boxer Protocol. Provisions for foreign troops to be stationed in Beijing.
Second Boer War (1899–1902)	United Kingdom File:Flag of the Cape Colony 1876-1910.svg British Cape Colony File:Flag of the Natal Colony 1875-1910.svg Natal Colony File:Flag of BSAC.svg Rhodesia Australia India Canada New Zealand Ceylon	Orange Free State South African Republic	Victory Treaty of Vereeniging, British sovereignty over The Orange Free State and the Transvaal.
British expedition to Tibet (1903–1904)	India	Tibet	Victory Treaty enforced, return to status quo.
Bambatha Rebellion (1906)	United Kingdom India	Zulu people	Victory Rebellion suppressed
Bazar Valley Campaign (1908)	India	Zakka Khel clan of the Afridi	Victory Rebellion suppressed
World War I (1914–1918)	France United Kingdom Canada Australia New Zealand India South Africa Russia Italy United States Serbia Montenegro Belgium Japan Romania Portugal Template:Country data Arab Revolt Hejaz China Greece File:Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg Brazil Kingdom of Nepal	Germany Austria-Hungary Ottoman Empire Bulgaria	Victory 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 Nations
Allied intervention in the Russian Civil War (1918–1920)	White Movement British Empire United Kingdom Canada Australia India South Africa Japan Czechoslovakia Greece Poland United States France Romania Serbia Italy China	Russian SFSR Far Eastern Republic Latvian SSR Ukrainian SSR Commune of Estonia Mongolian communists	Withdrawal Allied withdrawal from Russia. Bolshevik victory over White Army.
Turkish War of Independence (1919–1923)	Greece Pontic Rebels France French Armenian Legion French West Africa Armenia United Kingdom India Istanbul Government Kuva-yi Inzibatiye Italy Georgia	Ankara Government Kuva-yi Nizamiye Kuva-yi Milliye	Defeat 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 Kingdom India	File:Flag of Afghanistan (1919–1921).svg Afghanistan	Armistice Treaty of Rawalpindi Afghan invasion repelled. Afghanistan regains control of external affairs. Reaffirmation of the Durand Line.
First Waziristan Campaign (1919)	India	File:Flag of Waziristan resistance (1930s).svg Waziristan	Victory Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.
Kuwait–Najd War (1919–1920)	United Kingdom India File:Flag of Kuwait (1914-1921).svg Kuwait	File:Flag of the Second Saudi State.svg Sultanate of Nejd File:Flag of Ikhwan.svg Ikhwan	Victory Ikhawan retreat.
Iraqi revolt (1920)	United Kingdom India	Iraqi rebels	Victory Faisal I of Iraq installed as the King of Iraq.
Malabar rebellion (1921)	India	Mappila Muslims	Victory Rebellion suppressed.
Pink's War (1925)	India	Mahsud tribesmen	Victory Tribal leaders accept terms.
Second Mohmand Campaign (1935)	India	Mohmand	Victory Jirga and peace.
Second Waziristan Campaign (1936–1939)	India	File:Flag of Waziristan resistance (1930s).svg Waziri tribesmen	Victory Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.
World War II (1939–1945)	Soviet Union United States United Kingdom China France Free France File:Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg Poland Yugoslavia Greece File:Flag of Spain 1931 1939.svg Republican Spain Netherlands Belgium Luxembourg Denmark Norway Czechoslovakia File:Free Thai insignia.svg FTM Canada Australia New Zealand India Ceylon File:Flag of Burma (1939–1941, 1945–1948).svg British Burma File:Flag of Egypt 1922.svg Egypt File:Flag of the Governor-General of the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan.svg Sudan File:Flag of Nigeria (1914–1952).svg Nigeria South Africa Philippines Ethiopia File:Flag of Brazil (1889–1960).svg Brazil Mexico Colombia File:Flag of Cuba (sky blue).svg Cuba Chile Peru Mongolia Tuva File:Flag of North Vietnam (1945-1955).svg Viet Minh File:Flag of the Provisional Government of the Republic of Korea.svg KLA Kingdom of Nepal	Germany Japan Italy File:Flag of France (1794–1958).svg Vichy France Romania Hungary Bulgaria Slovakia File:Flag of Bohmen und Mahren.svg Bohemia and Moravia Croatia Finland Francoist Spain File:Flag of Albania (1939–1943).svg Kingdom of Albania File:Flag of German occupied Albania.svg German Albania Thailand Iraq File:1931 Flag of India.svg Azad Hind File:Flag of Burma 1943.svg Japanese Burma Manchukuo Mengjiang	Victory 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 War
Western Desert Campaign (1940–1943)	United Kingdom India Sudan Southern Rhodesia Palestine Australia New Zealand File:Flag of Egypt 1922.svg Egypt South Africa France Poland Greece Czechoslovakia	Italy Libya Supported by: Germany	Victory Allied Victory
East African Campaign (1940–1943)	United Kingdom Australia Gold Coast India Kenya Nigeria Nyasaland Northern Rhodesia Southern Rhodesia Uganda Somaliland South Africa Sudan Belgium Belgian Congo Ethiopia Free France French Equatorial Africa	Italy Italian East Africa Supported by: Germany	Victory Collapse of Italian East Africa
Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran (1941)	Soviet Union United Kingdom India	File:State Flag of Iran (1964-1980).svg Iran	Victory Abdication of Reza Shah, Allied occupation of Iran.
Indonesian National Revolution (1945–1947)	Netherlands United Kingdom India	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 India France Japan	File:Flag of North Vietnam (1945-1955).svg Viet Minh	Victory 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.

  Indian defeat

  Indian victory

  Another result (e.g. a treaty or peace without a clear result, status quo ante bellum, result of civil or internal conflict, result unknown or indecisive)

  Ongoing conflict

Name of conflict	India and allies	Opponents	Outcome
Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 (1947–1948)	India File:Flag of Jammu and Kashmir (1936-1953).svg Jammu and Kashmir	Template:Country data Dominion of Pakistan File:Liwa-e-Ahmadiyya 1-2.svg Furqan Force	Ceasefire Partitioning of Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan as Jammu and Kashmir and Azad Kashmir.
Integration of Junagadh (1947)	India	Junagadh	Victory Annexation of Junagadh into India
Operation Polo (1948)	India	Hyderabad	Victory Annexation of Hyderabad into India
Korean War (1950–1953)	South Korea United Nations United States United Kingdom Canada Turkey Australia Philippines New Zealand Thailand Ethiopia Greece France Colombia Belgium South Africa Netherlands Luxembourg Supported by: Denmark Italy West Germany India Israel Norway Sweden Taiwan Japan File:Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan Cuba El Salvador Spain	North Korea China Soviet Union Supported by: Bulgaria File:Flag of the Czech Republic.svg Czechoslovakia File:Flag of the German Democratic Republic.svg East Germany Hungary Poland Romania Mongolia	Stalemate Formation of the DMZ
Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (1954)	India	Portugal	Victory Annexation of Dadra and Nagar Haveli into India
Congo Crisis (1960–1964)	1960–63: Republic of the Congo Supported by: Soviet Union (1960) ONUC India	1960–63: Katanga Template:Country data South Kasai Supported by: Belgium 1960–62: Stanleyville government Supported by: Soviet Union	Victory Debellation of the State of Katanga
Annexation of Goa (1961)	India	Portugal	Victory Annexation of Goa, Daman and Diu into India
Sino-Indian War of 1962 (1962)	India	China	Defeat
Insurgency in Northeast India (1964–)	India Bhutan (joined in 2003) Bangladesh (joined in 1971) Myanmar (joined in 2018)	File:In tpdf.gif ATTF File:Flag of the Bodo Liberation Tigers Force.png BLTF File:Harakat flag.png HuM KLNLF File:KLO-flag.jpg KLO File:Front Nacional Democratic Bodoland.svg NDFB File:In nagaland.png NSCN PLA File:Ulfa logo.svg ULFA 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 Tripura and Meghalaya.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 (1965)	India	Pakistan	Stalemate United Nations mandated ceasefire India had an upper hand in the war No permanent territorial changes (see Tashkent Declaration)
Naxalite–Maoist insurgency (1967–)	India	Full List 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 Army	Ongoing Indian victory in Operation Steeplechase Quelling of the insurgency on a large scale via Operation Green Hunt
Nathu La and Cho La clashes (1967)	India	China	Victory Chinese withdrawal from the Kingdom of Sikkim
Bangladesh Liberation War ( From March 1971) & Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 ( From Dec 1971)	India Bangladesh Supported by: Soviet Union	Pakistan Supported by: United States United Kingdom China Template:Country data Pahlavi Iran Ceylon Saudi Arabia	Victory Pakistani surrender in East Pakistan Independence of Bangladesh
The First JVP insurrection (1971)	Template:Country data Dominion of Ceylon Ceylon Template:Country data Dominion of Ceylon United Front (since May 15) SLFP CCP (Pro-Soviet) LSSP Australia Egypt India Pakistan Singapore Soviet Union United Kingdom United States Yugoslavia China	JVP Supported by: North Korea (alleged) ASBPI File:South Asian Communist Banner.svg CCP (Maoist) (alleged)	Victory Rebel forces surrender Ceylonese government reestablishes control over entire island
Siachen conflict (1984–2003)	India	Pakistan	Victory Annexation of the Siachen Glacier into India following Operation Meghdoot India captures Quaid Post / Bana Top during Operation Rajiv Ceasefire since 2003
Operation Blue Star (1984)	India Supported by: United Kingdom Soviet Union	File:Flag-of-Khalistan.svg Sikh militants	Victory Indian forces suffer high casualties
Insurgency in Punjab (1984–1995)	India Supported by: United Kingdom Soviet Union	File:Flag-of-Khalistan.svg Sikh militants Supported by: Pakistan	Victory Militancy defeated
Operation Flowers are Blooming (1986)	India Seychelles	File:Flag of Seychelles.svg Military of Seychelles	Victory Aversion of the coup Resignation of Berlouis
The Second JVP insurrection (1987–1989)	Sri Lanka India United States United Kingdom Military support: Japan South Korea France Israel South Africa Pakistan Egypt	JVP Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya IUSF Supported by: Soviet Union North Korea Cuba ASBPI PLOTE (until 1988) SLFP	Victory Emergency conditions in South-western and Central provinces of Sri Lanka lifted Insurgency declined following the fall of the Eastern bloc
Sri Lankan Civil War (1987–1990)	India Sri Lanka	Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam	Withdrawal Withdrawal of Indian peace-keeping forces from Sri Lanka Continuation of the Sri Lankan Civil War
Operation Cactus (1988)	India Maldives	File:Bandera del PLOTE (Tàmils).svg PLOTE Maldivian rebels	Victory Restoration of government rule in Maldives
Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir (1989–)	India	File:Flag of Jihad.svg Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami File:Flag of Lashkar-e-Taiba.svg Lashkar-e-Taiba File:Jaishi-e-Mohammed.svg Jaish-e-Mohammed File:Harakat flag.png Harkat-ul-Mujahideen File:Al-Badr flag.svg Al-Badr File:Kashmir independent.svg Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front Supported by: Pakistan Taliban File:Flag of al-Qaeda.svg al-Qaeda	Ongoing Ongoing low-level Insurgency Enforcement of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir
Tajikistani Civil War (1992–1997)	UNMOT Austria Bangladesh Bulgaria Czechia Denmark Ghana Hungary Indonesia Jordan File:Flag of Nepal.svg Kingdom of Nepal Nigeria Poland Switzerland Ukraine Uruguay Non-UNMOT: China India Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Russia Tajikistan Turkmenistan Uzbekistan	File:Flag of Jihad.svg United Tajik Opposition Taliban	Victory United Nations - armistice
United Nations Operation in Somalia II (1993–1995) (Part of the Somali Civil War) (1991–)	UNOSOM II Algeria Australia Austria Bangladesh Belgium Botswana Canada Denmark Egypt Fiji Finland France Germany Greece India Indonesia Ireland Italy Kuwait Jordan Malaysia Morocco File:Flag of Nepal.svg Kingdom of Nepal New Zealand Nigeria Norway Pakistan Philippines Romania Saudi Arabia South Korea Spain Sweden Switzerland Tunisia Turkey UAE United Kingdom United States Zimbabwe	Somali National Alliance	Inconclusive/Other Result Civil war is ongoing
Kargil War (1999)	India	Pakistan	Victory India regains possession of Kargil No territorial changes
Operation Ocean Shield (2009–2016)	NATO United States United Kingdom Denmark Netherlands Spain Greece Germany Belgium Canada Italy Portugal Turkey Norway Non-NATO: Australia China India Indonesia Japan Malaysia New Zealand Oman Pakistan Russia Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore Somalia South Korea Ukraine	Pirates	Victory Number of Somali pirate attacks have been reduced dramatically.
China–India skirmishes (2020–21)	India	China	Stalemate Both sides pulled back their troops from the face-off points.