Keesing's World News Archives http://www.keesings.com/print/search?SQ_DESIGN_NAME=print&kssp... Keesing's Record of World Events (formerly Keesing's Contemporary Archives), Volume 18, January, 1972 India, Pakistan, Pakistan, Page 25053 © 1931-2006 Keesing's Worldwide, LLC - All Rights Reserved. The clashes between the Indian and Pakistani forces on the East Pakistan border which had continued since Nov. 21, 1971, developed into open war on Dec. 3, when the Pakistan Air Force 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 Yahya Khan. 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 Indian Air Force 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 Indian Army 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. Indira Gandhi, the Indian Prime Minister, was in Calcutta. On hearing the news she immediately flew back to New Delhi, 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 Bangladesh 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 1 of 6 3/31/2011 12:39 Keesing's World News Archives http://www.keesings.com/print/search?SQ_DESIGN_NAME=print&kssp... 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 Indian armed forces 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 West Pakistan. The Indian Army, linking up with the Mukti Bahini (Bangladesh guerrillas), entered East Pakistan on Dec. 4 2 of 6 3/31/2011 12:39 Keesing's World News Archives http://www.keesings.com/print/search?SQ_DESIGN_NAME=print&kssp... 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 Mymensingh (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 major successes on Dec.