Why was the 1971 India-Pakistan War mainly focused on East Pakistan rather than Kashmir?

The 1971 India-Pakistan War was primarily focused on East Pakistan because the conflict was rooted in the Bangladesh Liberation War, an internal struggle for independence against West Pakistani rule.12

Following a military crackdown by the Pakistani government in East Pakistan in March 1971, millions of refugees fled into India, creating a humanitarian crisis that prompted India to support the Bengali liberation movement. While fighting did occur along the western border—including in Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, and Rajasthan—the central objective of the Indian military intervention was to secure the liberation of East Pakistan.32415

The war officially escalated on December 3, 1971, when Pakistan launched air strikes against Indian air bases, leading India to launch a full-scale offensive. The conflict concluded on December 16, 1971, when Pakistani forces in the east surrendered, effectively ensuring the creation of Bangladesh.6531