List of wars involving India

For the list of wars and conflicts took place in the Indian subcontinent before 1858, see List of wars in the Indian subcontinent.

This is a list of military operations conducted by the British Indian Empire (1858–1947) and the post-independence Dominion of India (1947–1950) and the modern Republic of India (since 1950), including total wars, limited operations, and counter-insurgency missions both domestically and abroad.

British Indian Empire (1858–1947)

Main article: British Raj

  British Indian victory

  Another result*

  British Indian defeat

*e.g. settlement, withdrawal of troops, ceasefire or inconclusive

Conflict	India and Allies	Opponent(s)	Result, casualties, and losses of India and Opponent(s)
Second Opium War (1856–1860)	United Kingdom India France	China	Victory Treaties of Tientsin.
Ambela Campaign (1863–1864)	India	Afghan Pashtuns 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	Ethiopian Empire	Victory British victory at the Battle of Magdala, Theodore II commits suicide.
Second Anglo-Afghan War (1878–1880)	United Kingdom India	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)	Congo Free State United Kingdom India Egypt Ethiopia	Mahdist Sudan	Victory Sudan became an Anglo-Egyptian condominium.
Anglo-Egyptian War (1882)	United Kingdom India Tewfik Pasha	Ahmed Orabi	Victory Ahmed Orabi exiled, British occupation of Egypt.
Third Anglo-Burmese War (1885)	India	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)	Britain 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 British Cape Colony Natal Colony 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 Hejaz China Greece 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	Afghanistan	Armistice Treaty of Rawalpindi Afghan invasion repelled. Afghanistan regains control of external affairs. Reaffirmation of the Durand Line.
First Waziristan Campaign (1919)	India	Waziristan	Victory Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.
Kuwait–Najd War (1919–1920)	United Kingdom India Kuwait	Sultanate of Nejd 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	Waziri tribesmen	Victory Suppression of insurrection by independent Wazir tribes.
World War II (1939–1945) Including Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran (1941)	Allies United Kingdom India	Axis Japan Azad Hind Burma	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
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	Viet Minh	Victory Start of the First Indochina War, lasting until the Geneva Conference of 1954.

Independent India (1947–present)

See also: History of India (1947–present), Dominion of India, and Republic of India

Key—

  Indian victory

  Another result*

  Indian defeat

  Ongoing conflict

*e.g. settlement, withdrawal of troops, ceasefire or inconclusive

Conflict	India and Allies	Opponent(s)	Result, casualties, and losses of India and Opponent(s)
Indonesian National Revolution (1947-1949) Location: Dutch East Indies	Indonesia PDRI TNI POLRI Japanese holdouts India	Netherlands Dutch East Indies KNIL NICA Pao An Tui United Kingdom British Raj Japan DI/TII (from 1949) FDR Small guerrilla groups	Indonesian victory Independence of Indonesia from the Netherlands End of Dutch rule over most parts of Indonesia, as the Dutch East Indies ceased to exist Dutch recognition of the Indonesian independence in the Dutch-Indonesian Round Table Conference Formation of the United States of Indonesia Creation of the Netherlands-Indonesia Union Netherlands cedes control of most territories of the Dutch East Indies to the United States of Indonesia
Indo-Pakistani War (1947–1948) Location: Kashmir	Dominion of India Jammu & Kashmir	Dominion of Pakistan	Ceasefire One-third of Jammu and Kashmir controlled by Pakistan. Indian control over remainder. Casualties and losses 1,103–1,500 Indian Army personnel killed; 3,154–3,500 wounded. 1,990 Jammu & Kashmir state forces killed or missing. Total military casualties: ~6,000–7,000 1,000 Pakistani troops killed. 5,000 tribesmen and Kashmiri rebels killed. ~14,000 Pakistani troops, tribesmen and Kashmiri rebels wounded. Total military casualties: ~20,000
Annexation of Junagadh (1948) Location: Junagadh	Dominion of India	State of Junagadh	Indian victory State of Junagadh annexed by the Dominion of India and incorporated into existing Saurashtra province. Casualties and losses Unknown
Annexation of Hyderabad (1948) Location: Hyderabad	Dominion of India	State of Hyderabad	Indian victory Hyderabad annexed to the Dominion of India as a new Hyderabad province. Casualties and losses <10 Indian Army personnel killed. 807 Hyderabad State forces killed; 1,647 captured. 1,373 Razakars killed; 1,911 captured.
Insurgency in Northeast India (1954-Present) Location(s): Nagaland, Assam, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura	India Supported by: Bhutan Bangladesh Myanmar	Separatist group(s) from Manipur: People's Liberation Army of Manipur Kangleipak Communist Party People's Revolutionary Party of Kangleipak Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup Maoist Communist Party of Manipur Separatist group(s) from Assam: United Liberation Front of Asom Kamtapur Liberation Organisation Separatist group from Nagaland : National Socialist Council of Nagaland Separatist group from Arunachal Pradesh: Tani Army Trans-national separatist group: Kuki National Army Former group(s) United National Liberation Front (1964–2023) National Democratic Front of Boroland (1986–2020) National Liberation Front of Tripura (1989–2024) All Tripura Tiger Force (1990–2024) Karbi Longri N.C. Hills Liberation Front (2004–21) Bodo Liberation Tigers Force (1996-03) Zomi Revolutionary Army (1997–2005) Garo National Liberation Army (2009–18) Hynniewtrep National Liberation Council (2000–10) People's Democratic Council of Karbi Longri (2016–21) Adivasi Cobra Force (1996–2012) Mizo National Front (1954–86) Tripura National Volunteers (1978–88) Dima Halam Daogah (2009–13) United People's Democratic Solidarity (1999–2014) State Supporter: China (claimed by India) Myanmar(until 2018) Bhutan (until 2003) Non-State Supporter: CPI (Maoist)	Ongoing Ongoing (low level insurgency) The Insurgency in Mizoram ended in 1986 following the Mizoram Peace Accord The Insurgency in Tripura ended in 2024 following the 2024 Tripura Peace Accord
Congo Crisis (1960-65) Location: Congo	First Phase(1960–1963): Republic of the Congo Supported by: United Nations(ONUC) India Other states Soviet Union(1960) Second Phase(1963–1965): Democratic Republic of the Congo Supported by: United Nations(ONUC)(Up to 1964) India Other states United States Belgium	First Phase(1960–1963): State of Katanga South Kasai Supported by: Belgium Free Republic of the Congo Supported by: Soviet Union(post-1960–1962) Second Phase(1963–1965): Simba rebels Kwilu rebels Supported by: Soviet Union China Cuba	Victory Debellation of the State of Katanga.
Annexation of Goa (1961) Location(s): Portuguese India(Goa, Daman and Diu) Arabian Sea	India	Portugal	Victory Annexation of Goa, Daman and Diu into India. Casualties and losses *22 Indian soldiers killed,225 wounded 30 Portuguese soldiers killed, 57 wounded. 4,668 Portuguese soldiers captured. 1 sloop lost, 1 patrol boat sunk.
China-India War (1962) Location(s): Aksai Chin North-East Frontier Agency Assam	India	China	Defeat Status quo ante bellum
Indo-Pakistani War (1965) Location(s): Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bengal, Arabian Sea	India	Pakistan	Inconclusive United Nations mandated ceasefire India had an upper hand in the war No permanent territorial changes (see Tashkent Declaration)
Naxalite–Maoist insurgency (1967-2026) Location: India	India Supported by: (until 2011) Tritiya Prastuti Committee Salwa Judum Sunlight Sena Kuer Sena Ranvir Sena Bhumi Sena Lorik Sena	Communist Party of India (Maoist) People's Liberation Guerrilla Army (India) Jharkhand Janmukti Parishad People's Liberation Front of India Former group(s) Revolutionary Communist Centre(2006–2019) Odisha Maobadi Party(2002–2015) Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation (1974–1992) Lal Sena Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Janashakti (1992–2013) Communist Party of United States of India (1997–2005) Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) New Democracy Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) (Mahadev Mukherjee) (until 2012) Akhil Bharat Nepali Ekta Samaj (until 2002) TNLA Supported by: ULFA NSCN PLA-MP MCPM KCP Declared support: International Communist League CPN (Maoist) CPN (2014) NPA PBSP (until 2021) PBCP (until 2021) CIC (until 1977) CCP (Maoist) (until 1976)	Victory Sharp decline in Maoist violence, with incidents and influence significantly reduced nationwide. Hundreds of Maoists killed and large-scale surrenders weaken insurgent leadership and structure. At least two Maoist commanders refuse to surrender and remain committed to continue fighting.
Nathu La and Cho La Conflict (1967) Location: Sikkim	India	China	Victory Chinese withdrawal from the Kingdom of Sikkim
1971 JVP insurrection (1971) Location: Ceylon	Ceylon Supported by: India Pakistan Soviet Union	JVP Supported by: North Korea Albania (arms support) China (alleged) ASBPI CCP (Maoist)(alleged) Diplomatic support: South Yemen	Victory Rebel forces surrender Ceylonese government reestablishes control over entire island
Indo-Pakistani War (1971) part of the Bangladesh Liberation War Location(s): East Pakistan, Bay of Bangal Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujrat, Arabian Sea	India Bangladesh Supported by: Soviet Union	Pakistan Supported by: United States United Kingdom China Iran Ceylon Saudi Arabia	Victory Pakistani surrender in East Pakistan Independence of Bangladesh
Siachen conflict (1984-2003) Location: Siachen Glacier	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
Insurgency in Punjab (1984-1995) Location: Punjab	India	Khalistani militants Supported by: Pakistan	Victory Militancy defeated
The Second JVP insurrection (1987-89) Location: Sri Lanka	Sri Lanka India	Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna	Victory Emergency conditions in South-western and Central provinces of Sri Lanka lifted Insurgency declined following the fall of the Eastern bloc
Indian intervention in the Sri Lankan Civil War (1987-1990) Location: Sri Lanka	India Sri Lanka	Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam	Ceasefire Withdrawal of Indian peace-keeping forces from Sri Lanka after ceasefire
Maldivian Anti-Coup Mission (1988) Location: Maldives	India Maldives	PLOTE Maldivian rebels	Victory Restoration of government rule in Maldives
Insurgency in Jammu and Kashmir (1989-Present) Location: Jammu and Kashmir	India	Pakistan-based Terrorist group(s): Lashkar-e-Taiba The Resistance Front Hizbul Mujahideen Jaish-e-Mohammed HUM HuJI Al-Badr Al-Umar-Mujahideen People's Anti-Fascist Front Other separatist movements & insurgent militant groups Political opponent(s): All Parties Hurriyat Conference JIJK Supported by: Pakistan D-Company Al-Qaeda AQIS Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind Islamic State IS Khorasan IS Hind	Ongoing Ongoing low-level Insurgency Enforcement of AFSPA in Jammu and Kashmir
United Nations Operation in Somalia II (1993–1995) The part of Somali Civil War Location: Somalia	United Nations India Algeria Australia Austria Belgium Botswana Canada Denmark Egypt Fiji Finland France Germany Greece Indonesia Ireland Italy Jordan Kuwait Malaysia Morocco 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 Al-Itihaad al-Islamiya Somali National Front	UNOSOM II failure
Kargil War (1999) Location(s): Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir	India	Pakistan Non-state allies: United Jihad Council Lashkar-e-Taiba Hizbul Mujahideen Jaish-e-Mohammed HUM HuJI Al-Badr Al-Umar-Mujahideen Afghan mercenaries	Indian victory India regains possession of Kargil Status quo ante bellum
Operation Ocean Shield (2009-2016) Location(s): Indian Ocean, Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel, Arabian Sea, Red Sea	NATO Denmark United Kingdom United States France Netherlands Spain Greece Romania Germany Belgium Canada Italy Portugal Turkey Norway Non-NATO: India Others Indonesia Japan Malaysia New Zealand Oman Pakistan Peru Philippines Russia Saudi Arabia Seychelles Singapore South Africa South Korea Taiwan Thailand Ukraine Yemen	Somali pirates	Allied victory
China–India skirmishes (2020-21) Location: Ladakh	India	China	Stalemate 2,000 km2 of India-claimed territory was estimated to have been taken over by China since May 2020.
India-Pakistan conflict (2025) Location(s): India, Pakistan	India	Pakistan	Ceasefire

See also

• Afghan–Sikh Wars
• List of wars involving the Mughal Empire
• Battles involving the Maratha Empire
• List of wars involving Delhi Sultanate
• List of Anglo-Indian Wars
• Indian Army United Nations peacekeeping missions

Sources

• Bangash, Yaqoob Khan (2010), "Three Forgotten Accessions: Gilgit, Hunza and Nagar", The Journal of Imperial and Commonwealth History, 38 (1): 117–143, doi:10.1080/03086530903538269, S2CID 159652497
• Barua, Pradeep (2005). The State at War in South Asia. University of Nebraska Press. ISBN 978-0-8032-1344-9.
• Brown, William (30 November 2014). Gilgit Rebelion: The Major Who Mutinied Over Partition of India. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1-4738-2187-3.
• Jamal, Arif (2009). Shadow War: The Untold Story of Jihad in Kashmir. Melville House. ISBN 978-1-933633-59-6.
• Massey, Reginald (2005). Azaadi!. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 978-81-7017-469-1.