Military & Aerospace

The March to Dacca - III
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Quoting Niazis signal, the message read: “Since you have indicated your desire to stop fighting, I expect you to issue orders to all forces under your command in Bangladesh to ceasefire immediately and surrender to my advancing forces, wherever they are located.”

On 15 December, Malik and Farman Ali informed the UN Secretariat that the authorities in East Pakistan were prepared to end hostilities but desired a ceasefire of a few hours to discuss its terms. This message was also intercepted, and before Niazi or anybody else could change his mind the air attacks on Niazi’s headquarters were intensified. Late that same evening, AIR repeatedly broadcast a message from Manekshaw to Niazi at short intervals. Quoting Niazi’s signal, the message read: “Since you have indicated your desire to stop fighting, I expect you to issue orders to all forces under your command in Bangladesh to ceasefire immediately and surrender to my advancing forces, wherever they are located.” Manekshaw gave his solemn assurance that armed Pakistani personnel who surrendered would be treated with the dignity and respect soldiers were entitled to under the Geneva Convention. The wounded and the sick would be cared for, the dead given a respectable burial.

He added: “No one need fear for their safety, no matter where they come from. Nor shall there be any reprisal by forces operating under my command… ” As soon as he received a positive response, he said he would direct Gen Aurora to refrain from all air and ground action against the Pakistani forces. To demonstrate his good faith, he ordered stoppage of all air action over Dacca and its neighbourhood from 1700 hours on 15 December to 0900 hours the next day and emphasised that India had no desire to inflict casualties on Niazi’s troops. And then he warned: “However, should you not comply with that I have stated, you will leave me with no alternative but to resume my offensive with the utmost vigour at 0900 hours 16 December.”

The extension was at once granted, and this time the moratorium was extended to the ground forces as well. A couple of hours later Nagra, accompanied by his brigade commanders, walked into Niazis headquarters.

Radio links were activated on listening watch to pick up Niazi’s response to Manekshaw’s message. But the whole night passed in silence. Manekshaw was getting exasperated at what seemed an endless wait. Next morning arrived without any response. At 0800 hours on 16 December, when Manekshaw was in the process of giving directions for the day’s operations, the radio link became suddenly active, conveying Niazi’s request for an extension of the moratorium by six hours and for an Indian Army representative to come down to Dacca to negotiate the terms of surrender. The extension was at once granted, and this time the moratorium was extended to the ground forces as well. A couple of hours later Nagra, accompanied by his brigade commanders, walked into Niazi’s headquarters.

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