Eventually, conditions placed the East Pakistanis in a position to change the balance of power.

Promising to end dictatorship and introduce democracy, General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan came to power in 1969. The general appeared to make good on his pledge when free elections, the first in Pakistan’s history, were held toward the end of the following year.

The outcome of the voting, however, came as a blow to the West Pakistani leadership. The Awami People's League of Bangladesh had won an overwhelming victory, capturing a majority of Pakistan’s legislative seats. It appeared that the Awami party had been mandated to create Pakistan's first democratic government.

But the regime in the West refused to allow the transfer of power to East Pakistan. In March, 1971, the order was issued to eliminate opposition to West Pakistan's dominance.

To this day no one knows how many were killed in the conflict that followed. Estimates range from several hundred thousand to three million.