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Keesing's Record of World Events (formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives), Volume 18, January, 1972 , , Pakistan, Page 25053 © 1931-2006 Keesing's Worldwide, LLC - All Rights Reserved.

The clashes between the Indian and Pakistani forces on the border which had continued since Nov. 21, 1971, developed into open war on Dec. 3, when the made a surprise attack on military airfields in western India. Indian troops thereupon entered and overran East Pakistan, where the Pakistani forces surrendered unconditionally on Dec. 16. The fighting on the western front ended on the following day, after a cease-fire bad been ordered first by the Indian Government and then by President . Details of the war are given below.

Between 5.40 and 6.10 p.m. on Dec. 3, just after dusk, the Pakistan Air Force carried out a series of raids on the Indian military airfields at Srinagar and Avantipur ( Kashmir), Pathankot, Amritsar, Faridkot, Sadik and Ambala ( Punjab), Agra ( Uttar Pradesh), and Jodhpur and Uttarlal ( Rajasthan). The raids were apparently intended to destroy tire on the ground but caused little damage, as the Indian aircraft were dispersed in readiness for such an attack under the cover of hardened concrete bunkers. At 8.30 the same evening Pakistani armoured forces and infantry crossed the cease-fire line in Kashmir in the Poonch sector, and 11 border posts in Kashmir and Punjab were heavily shelled.

The Pakistani attack, it was believed, bad three main aims: to reduce the pressure on the forces in East Pakistan by creating a diversion in the west, to occupy territory in Kashmir and Rajasthan which could be used as a bargaining counter in negotiating a settlement in East Pakistan, and to secure the intervention of the great Powers or the U.N. security Council. The following reasons for the timing of the attack were suggested: (1) bombing operations on the night of Dec. 3 were facilitated by a full moon; (2) the Indians would not expect the Pakistanis to attack on a Friday, the Moslem Sabbath; (3) if the offensive in Kashmir were delayed operations would be hindered by snow.

Contrary to the Indian statements that Pakistan had unleashed hostilities by air attacks on Indian airfields, Pakistani official spokesmen asserted that the had launched an offensive between 3.30 and 4 p.m. on Dec. 3 on nine fronts between Kashmir and Rajasthan. This allegation was described as "a complete lie" by Indian spokesmen, and was discounted by Western journalists.

At the time of the Pakistani air raids Mrs. , the Indian Prime Minister, was in Calcutta. On hearing the news she immediately flew back to , where she held an emergency Cabinet meeting and had talks with leaders of all the Opposition parties. At 11 p.m. President Giri signed a proclamation declaring a state of emergency, and just after midnight Mrs. Gandhi made the following broadcast:

"Since last March we bare borne the heaviest burden and withstood the greatest pressure, in a tremendous effort to urge the world to help in bringing about a peaceful solution and preventing the annihilation of an entire people whose only crime was to vote for democracy. But the world ignored the basic causes and concerned itself only with certain repercussions. The situation was bound to deteriorate, and a courageous band of freedom fighters have been staking their all in defence of values for which we also have struggled and which are basic to our way of life.

"Today the war in has become war on India. This has imposed upon me, my Government and the people of India a great responsibility. We have no other option but to put our country on a war footing. Our

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brave officers and jawans are at their posts, mobilized for defence of the country. Emergency has been declared for the whole of India. Every necessary step is being taken, and we are prepared for all eventualities.

"I have no doubt it is the united will of our people that this wanton and unprovoked aggression should be decisively and finally repelled. In this resolve the Government is assured of the full and unflinching support of all political parties and every Indian citizen…."

An emergency session of the Indian Parliament on Dec. 4 approved without division the Defence of India Bill, which empowered the Government to adopt measures for preventing espionage, publication of information prejudicial to the national interest and other activities which might undermine the defence effort, and to requisition any property or vehicle for defence purposes.

The Pakistan Government on Dec. 3 called on all servicemen and all persons under 60 to serve in any military capacity as long as necessary, and on the following day proclaimed a state of war with India. President Yahya Khan made the following broadcast to the nation at noon on Dec. 4:

"We are fighting for our country's integrity and honour. God is with us in our mission. Our enemy has once again challenged us. The armed forces of India have launched a full-scale war on us.

"India's hate and enmity for Pakistan are known to the whole world. India has always tried to weaken and destroy Pakistan. This is India's biggest and final war against us.

"So far Pakistan has acted with supreme patience. We have tolerated enough. The time has now come to give a crushing reply to the Indian aggressors…. I am confident you will succeed. As 120,000,000 mujahids [warriors of islam] you will receive God's help….

"The Ghazis [islamic] with unequalled bravery in spite of heavy odds have stopped the enemy's advance on all fronts. I am confident our armed forces will not only repel aggression. They will carry the war to our enemy by chasing them to destroy them on their own soil.

"The result for the Indian Army will be worse for them than in the 1965 conflict over Kashmir. They are in for much greater punishment and final defeat. India is dishonest. I hope the world community, particularly Pakistan's friends, will support Pakistan in a cause which is based on justice and peace…."

The staff of the Indian High Commission in Islamabad were reported on Dec. 5 to have been removed to three separate residences, where they were not allowed to use the telephone or to receive telegrams. The Indian Government imposed similar restrictions on the staff of the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi on the same day.

Two hours before the Pakistani air raids in the west, Pakistani aircraft attacked the airfield at Agartala (Tripure) on Dec. 3 for the second consecutive day. Indian troops which had crossed the border on Dec. 2 forced the Pakistanis to withdraw artillery which had been shelling the town for the past three days, and took up positions 2,000 yards inside Pakistani territory.

On Dec. 4 the launched an integrated ground, air and naval offensive against East Pakistan. Aircraft operating from the carrier Vikrant bombed the airfield at Cox's Bazar (south of Chittagong) and destroyed two Pakistani gunboats, fuel dumps and hangars at Chittagong, whilst Indian aircraft bombed Decca event half hour. On Dec. 5 the Indians claimed to have destroyed all but four of the Sabre jets stationed in East Pakistan, which were grounded by repeated bombing of Dacca airfield, the only jet runway in East Pakistan. India's early assertion of her naval and air superiority thus enabled her to cut off entirely East from .

The Indian Army, linking up with the (Bangladesh guerrillas), entered East Pakistan on Dec. 4

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from five main directions: (1) in the Comilla sector, cast of Decca; (2) in the Sylhet sector, in the north-east of the province; (3) in the (Nasirabad) sector, in the north; (4) in the Rangpur-Dinajpur sector, in the north-west; (5) in the Jessore sector, south-west of Decca. The aim of the Indian strategy was to divide the Pakistani units stationed round the border and to prevent them from uniting in defence of Decca, Ÿ which occupies a strong strategic position protected by the complex river system at the mouth of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra. The Indian forces therefore advanced on some 23 different salients, some units turning to the left or the right to cut off Pakistani units while others drove straight on towards Dacca, by-passing and isolating the garrisons of towns near the border.

Troops advancing from Agartala occupied the important railway junction of Akhaura on Dec. 5, meeting with little resistance. To the south of Comilla the Indians captured the rail and road centre of Laksham on the same day, cutting the last road link between Decca and Chittagong, whilst Feni (south-east of Laksham) fell on Dec. 6. In the Mymensingh sector Kamalpur was captured on Dec. 4; the local Pakistani commander, to whose courage the Indian Army paid tribute, had received orders to "die fighting", but was forced to surrender by his own men. In the Jessore sector the Mukti Bahini occupied the railhead at Darsana on the same day after fierce fighting.

The Indian forces achieved two successes on Dec. 7. In the north-western sector Sylhet was captured by troops which had been landed in the town by helicopters. On the morning of the same day Indian troops occupied the airfield at Jessore without a shot being fired, and in the afternoon the Pakistani garrison hurriedly evacuated the and retreated southward towards Khulna, taking most of their artillery with them lint leaving behind about 6,000 tons of ammunition and supplies. Indian officers estimated that the cantonment, which was held by about 5,000 men and defended by heavy artillery, tanks, minefields, reinforced bunkers and anti-tank emplacements, could have held out for two or three weeks.

Western journalists who visited Jessore described the tumultuous welcome which the Indian forces received from the Bengali population, and gave details of the ordeal to which the civilian population in the town had been subjected since April. An Italian missionary told reporters that during the week April 4–10 the streets and houses had been full of bodies of residents executed in batches by the soldiers and Razakars (paramilitary forces), and estimated that 10,000 people had been executed in and around Jessore, which normally has a population of about 60,000. Over half the population, including almost all the women, had fled to the countryside or to India during the occupation by the ; the Hindu community had disappeared, and many of the houses in the empty Hindu quarter had been demolished.

General , the Indian Army Chief of Staff, broadcast on Dec. 7 an appeal to the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan to surrender "before it is too late", promising them good treatment. Pointing out that their Air Force was destroyed and the ports blocked, he warned them that "the Mukti Bahini and the people fighting for liberation have encircled you, and are all prepared to take revenge for the atrocities and cruelties you have committed". The appeal was repeated over loud-speakers and on leaflets dropped on the Pakistani troops.

Mrs. Gandhi announced in the Lok Sabha on Dec. 6 that India had recognized the Provisional Government of Bangladesh.

"It was natural that our sympathy should be with the people of Bangladesh in their just struggle," she said. "But we did not act precipitately in the matter of recognition. Our decisions were not guided merely by emotion, but by the assessment of prevailing and future realities. With the unanimous revolt of the entire people of Bangladesh and the success of their struggle, it has become increasingly apparent that the so-called mother-State of Pakistan is totally incapable of bringing the people of Bangladesh back under its control. As for the legitimacy of the Government of Bangladesh, the whole world is now aware that it reflects the will of the over-whelming majority of the people, which not many Governments can claim to represent…. Applying this criterion, the military regime in Pakistan, which some States are so anxious to buttress, is hardly

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representative of its people, even in West Pakistan.

"Now that Pakistan is waging war against India, normal hesitation on our part not to do anything which would come in the way of a peaceful solution or which might be construed as intervention has lost significance. The people of Bangladesh battling for their very existence and the people of India fighting to defeat aggression now find themselves partisans in the same cause. I am glad to inform the House that, in the light of the existing situation and in response to the repeated requests of the Government of Bangladesh, the Government of India have… decided to grant recognition to the People's Republic of Bangladesh….

"The Government of Bangladesh have proclaimed their basic principles of State policy to be democracy, socialism, secularism and the establishment of an egalitarian society in which there would be no discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sex or creed. In regard to foreign relations the Bangladesh Government have expressed their determination to follow a policy of non-alignment, peaceful coexistence and opposition to colonialism, racialism and imperialism in all its manifestations. These are ideals to which India also is dedicated.

"The Bangladesh Government have reiterated their anxiety to organize the expeditious return of their citizens who have found temporary refuge in our country, and to restore their lands and belongings to them. We shall naturally help in every way in these arrangements…."

The Pakistan Government immediately broke off diplomatic relations with India, and described India's action as evidence of its "deep hatred" of Pakistan and of its determination to break up the country. The Swiss Foreign Ministry (Political Department) ańnounced on Dec. 7 that it had agreed to requests by Pakistan and India to represent their diplomatic interests in New Delhi and Islamabad respectively. Bhutan announced its recognition of Bangladesh on the same day.

Mrs. Gandhi, (acting ) and Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed (Prime Minister in the Bangladesh Government) signed an agreement on Dec. 10 placing the Mukti Bahini under the cómmand of Lieut.General (C.-in-C. Indian ), who would report to the two heads of Government through General Manekshaw. The Indian forces in East Pakistan and the Mukti Bahini would jointly maintain order in the liberated areas, restore essential services and arrange for the early return of refugees.

Syed Nazrul Islam and Mr. Tajuddin Ahmed established the headquarters of the Bangladesh Government in Jessore on Dec. 11. Appealing to the population not to take the law into their own hands, they announced that a war tribunal would shortly be set up in Dacca to try "traitors and collaborators", and that four right-wing political parties–the Moslem League, Jamaat-i-lslami, Nezam-i-lslami and People's Democratic Party–had been banned.

The Indian Army continued to advance on all fronts in East Pakistan during the period Dec. 8–14.

In the west of the province Indian units advancing north-east from Jessore occupied Magura on Dec. 8, while others pursued the garrison of Jessore, which maintained a desperate rearguard action during its retreat to Khulna. In the east the Indian forces occupied Comilla, by-passing the strongly fortified Mainamati cantonment nearby, and Brahmanbaria, north-west of Akhaura. After information had been received that the Pakistani forces appeared to be moving towards the river ports of Narayanganj and Barisal in an apparent attempt to escape by sea, General Manekshaw broadcast a new call to surrender, warning them that he had deployed naval forces to prevent their escape.

On Dec. 9 the Indian Army established control of the River Meghna, the strongest natural obstacle defending Dacca on the eastern side. The key crossing points at Ashuganj (west of Brahmanbaria), Daudkandi (west of Comilla) and Chandpur (near the mouth of the river) were all occupied. A steamer carrying 500 Pakistani

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troops was sunk by air bombing and tank fire near Chandpur, whilst in the west of the province Indian aircraft bombed river craft on the Madhumati and the Ganges (there called the Padres) to prevent the retreating Pakistanis from linking up with the forces in Dacca. Meanwhile the bombing of Dacca continued; Indian aircraft bombing the railway yards hit an orphanage 150 yards away, killing about 300 boys.

The Indian Army crossed the Meghna on Dec. 10 from Ashuganj to Bhairab Bazar; as the Pakistani forces had blown up the bridge the Indians crossed the river, which at this point is 1,200 yards wide, in helicopters and steamers, meeting no resistance. The Air Force continued its attacks on river craft, 25 of which were destroyed or badly damaged.

Major-General Khan, military adviser to the Governor of East Pakistan, sent a message to U Thant, the U.N. Secretary-General, on Dec. 10 through the U.N. representative in Dacca, proposing a cease-fire, the repatriation of the Pakistani forces to West Pakistan, the evacuation of the Indian forces and "a peaceful transfer of power to a Government here of elected representatives of East Pakistan". President Yahya Khan, who had previously agreed to this approach, countermanded it on Dec. 11.

Pakistani troops surrendered in increasing numbers on Dec. 11. In the Comilla sector 1,600 men surrendered after all their escape routes had been cut, and the Pakistanis maintained their resistance only at the Mainamati cantonment, which had been encircled by Indian troops. The town of Noakhali was occupied by the Mukti Bahini, who found it deserted. In the Mymensingh sector the town of Mymensingh itself fell, and about 600 men were taken prisoner at Jamalpur. In the north-western sector the garrison of Hilli, which had maintained a stubborn resistance for a week until they were outflanked and almost encircled, evacuated the town, leaving behind them a large store of ammunition. In the western sector, where only Khulna remained in Pakistani hands, Kushtia was occupied by the Indian Army; the retreating garrison blew up the Hardinge Bridge over the Padres, the longest in East Pakistan.

The Indian Army reported that they had found the bodies of at least 227 people, mostly women and children, whom the Pakistani forces had herded into three houses on the banks of the Padma and machine-gunned. Fighting was also reported to have broken out between the Pakistan Army and the Razakars, whom the Army had refused to take with them on their retreat, and in the Khulna area many Razakars were reported to have rallied to the Mukti Bahini.

The Indian Air Force landed a battalion of parachute troops on the outskirts of Dacca on Dec. 11; they were reported on the following day to have withstood a massive counterattack, inflicting heavy casualties. Troops advancing from Bhairab Bazar captured Narsingdi (22 miles north-east of Dacca) on Dec. 12, and the Mukti Bahini were reported to have intensified their activities in and around Dacca. Six Pakistani naval craft carrying troops attempting to escape by sea were sunk by Indian naval aircraft on the same day.

As the Indian forces converged on Dacca, General Manekshaw sent an appeal to surrender on Dec. 13 not to Lieut.-General Amin Abdullah Khan Niazi (the Pakistani military commander) but to General Farman Ali, who in view of his earlier message to U Thant was thought to be more likely to respond to it. Declaring that "further resistance is senseless and will mean death to many poor soldiers under your command quite unnecessarily", General Manekshaw promised complete protection and just treatment to all military and quasi-military personnel who surrendered and to foreign nationals and ethnic minorities. General Niazi, however, declared on the same day that he would "fight to the last man".

The Indian Army began shelling Dacca on Dec. 14, while aircraft attacked the city with rockets, meeting virtually no anti-aircraft fire; many civilians were reported to have been killed. A Pakistani brigade retreating from Mymensingh surrendered at Tungi, about 12 miles north of Dacca; the prisoners included a , the most senior so far to surrender. Bogra, the Pakistan Army's divisional headquarters in the north of the province, was taken after what was described as "a brief though bitter fight". Outside Dacca the only Pakistani garrisons still holding out were those at Rangpur, Dinajpur, Khulna, Mainamati, Barisal and

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Chittagong; at Chittagong the harbour was ablaze after being bombed and rocketed by naval aircraft, and Indian troops moving south from Feni were within five miles of the town.

All foreign nationals who wished to leave Dacca were evacuated on Dec. 12 after several previous attempts had failed.

After an agreement had been reached for a two-hour bombing pause on Dec. 6 to permit the evacuation of U.N. staff and other foreign nationals from Dacca, Indian aircraft attacked the airport 20 minutes before it came into force, and the rescue plane was consequently warned away. On the following day, when a four-hour pause was arranged, a U.N. aircraft was fired on by unidentified ships in the Bay of Bengal and forced to turn back to Bangkok. The Indian Government agreed on Dec. 9 not to attack the airport for 24 hours while the Pakistan Army repaired the damaged runway, and to permit U.N. aircraft to fly in provided that they landed at Calcutta for checking on both the inward and the outward Journey. The Pakistani authorities refused to allow the relief planes to land on Dec. 11 because they came from Indian territory, but were persuaded to reverse their decision on the following day, when 435 foreign nationals were evacuated during a six-hour bombing pause, the evacuation being effected by three R.A.F. Hercules aircraft from Singapore.

In West Pakistan foreign nationals were evacuated by air from Karachi on Dec. 10–11 and from Islamabad on Dec. 12 during a bombing pause agreed to by the Indian Government.

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