Pakistan's military, caught off guard by India's growing military presence and diplomatic support for Bangladesh's independence, made a daring move on December 3, 1971. In a bold pre-emptive strike, Pakistani warplanes swept across the border, bombing Indian airbases and radar stations, catching India off guard. The attack, code-named Operation Chengiz Khan, aimed to cripple India's air force and gain a strategic advantage. However, India quickly regrouped and retaliated, and the war escalated into one of the shortest but most intense conflicts in history.