The 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and Surrender of Pakistani Army - SOME INTERESTING NUGGETS

HERE IS Lt Gen Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, famously known as Lt Gen AAK Niazi, Commander of Pakistan's Eastern Command, signing the Instrument of Surrender to end the Bangladesh Liberation War on 16 December 1971.

- GULSHAN LUTHRA

He surrendered to Indian Army's Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding in Chief (GOCin-C), Eastern Command and more than 93,500 Pakistani Army, Air Force and Navy officers and personnel laid down their arms before the Indian. Army all across the newly-liberated country of Bangladesh.

The Indian Air Force dominated the East Pakistan skies while the Indian Navy blockaded its ports. The badly wounded Pakistan army itself called for a unilateral ceasefire. Maj Gen (Later Lt Gen) Jack Farj Rafael Jacob, Lt Gen Aurora's Chief of Staff, gave him 30 minutes to surrender instead, warning that else the Indian Army would resume its attacks. Gen Niazi agreed.

The Pakistanis were in a hopeless situation, and as the events progressed, the Indian Army was on the outskirts of Dacca. Maj Gen GS Nagra, GOC 101 Area, sent a handwritten note through his ADC Capt Hitesh Mehta and Capt Nirbhay Sharma (later Lt Gen) to Gen Niazi. It read: My Dear Abdullah, I am here. The game is up. I suggest you give yourself up to me and I will take care of you."

Gen Niazi had requested the Indian Army Chief General Sam Manekshaw for a ceasefire. The decision at the Indian Army HQ was for a surrender, which, in any case, was inevitable and the only option before the Pakistani Army. Gen Jacob was resolute in his demand for surrender, and made sure of that.

The Indian Army had also demoralised the Pakistani soldiers by reminding them, through airdropped leaflets and radio broadcasts, of their hopeless situation as well as the anger of the Bengalis who wanted to lynch them.