Pakistani troops lay down their weapons in East Pakistan
With 1971 commenced the most tragic year of our history.
Failing to resolve a political problem by political means, a Martial Law regime, manipulated by some megalomaniac politicians, resorted to military action in East Pakistan on night 25/26 March.
India’s immoral covert armed intervention having failed, by October it had concentrated four times our strength…
Widespread insurgency broke out. Personnel of two infantry divisions and Civil Armed Forces with weapons were airlifted in Pakistan International Airlines planes, over-flying about 5000 miles non stop via Sri Lanka in the first week of April 1971 – the longest operational air move by Pakistan Army. By May near normalcy had been restored, thanks to the fast reaction, dedication and cool courage of our soldiers, sailors and airmen operating in a hostile environment under adverse climatic and terrain conditions, without adequate logistics and medical support.
India’s immoral covert armed intervention having failed, by October it had concentrated four times our strength in over 12 divisions (400,000) supported by five regiments of tanks, and about 50,000 activists trained and equipped by Indian Army. Indian Navy’s one aircraft carrier, eight destroyers/frigates, two submarines and three landing crafts, against our four gunboats, eight Chinese coasters and two landing craft supported them. Eleven Indian Air Force squadrons – 4 Hunter, 1 SU-7, 3 Gnat and 3 MiG 21 – from five airfields around East Pakistan faced our one valiant Number 14 squadron of F-86F Sabres based on a single airfield around Dhaka .
On 21 November, Eid day, when our fatigued soldiers had been operating in the most hostile environment for almost ten months, including a month of fasting, the Indian army felt emboldened enough to launch a full scale invasion at over twenty fronts in the east, west and north of East Pakistan . Divisions attacked our brigade positions; brigades attacked our battalion, company and platoon positions, supported by their armour, artillery and lair force. When most of our defensive positions, rooted to the ground, could not be overrun, Indian forces after suffering heavy casualties resorted to outflanking moves. The aggressors could not capture, till the cease-fire; on 16 December, a single town except Jessore, which was not defended for strategic reasons.
…when our fatigued soldiers had been operating in the most hostile environment for almost ten months, including a month of fasting, the Indian army felt emboldened enough to launch a full scale invasion…
For the Pakistani soldiers this was their finest hour, fighting against heavy odds with their backs to the wall inflicting heavy casualties, bloodied but unbowed” when an Indian commander, through a messenger asked for our Jamalpur battalion to surrender, encircled by two brigades, the commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Sultan Ahmad, Sitara-i-Juraat of 31 Baloch replied in a message wrapped around a bullet which read, “I want to tell you that the fighting you have seen so far is very little; in fact the fighting has not even started. So let us stop negotiating and start the fight.”
Similarly 4 Frontier Force under 205 Brigade (Brigadier Tajammul Malik) held out at Hilli for l19 days against 6 battalions, inflicting heavy casualties, till withdrawal on 11 December, after getting outflanked. Similar hard fought actions took place at Bahaduria and elsewhere by Punjab, Baloch, Frontier Force and Azad Kashmir units all arms and services, and Civil Armed Forces including West Pakistan Rangers and police units. 107 Brigades (Brigadier Mohammad Hayat, Sitara-i-Juraat) held at bay a division of 5 brigades and 2 armour regiments at Khulna inflicting heavy casualties till 17 December and ceased fighting only after repeated orders of our Eastern Command.
On the West Pakistan front, on 3 December 1971 , India attacked with the main effort against Shakargarh sector with three infantry divisions supported by three armoured brigades against our 8 Division front, operating under our 1 Corps (Commander Lieutenant General Irshad Ahmad Khan). The attack was halted in the tracks, inflicting heavy casualties. 8 (Independent) Armoured Brigade (Brigadier Mohammad Ahmed, Sitara-i-Juraat) effectively blocked and destroyed enemy penetration our minefield and saved Zafarwal from being outflanked by enemy armour.
Before our counter offensive could be launched in West Pakistan, India asked for cease-fire in the United Nations.
In Jammu and Kashmir , Chhamb, Lahore , Kasur, Sulemanki and Rajasthan sectors, war was carried into Indian territory , with success at some points, not so successfully at others due to inadequate forces and air support. For the Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force this conflict was their finest hour. Fighting against overwhelming odds in both wings of the country raged with full fury. Before our counter offensive could be launched in West Pakistan , India asked for cease-fire in the United Nations. The Ghazis and Shaheeds proved in their supreme hour of trial all the military virtues of Faith, Honour, Valour, Fortitude, Endurance, Loyalty, Group Cohesion and Unlimited Liability, and above all, the spirit of Jehad.
On 4 December 1971 , the United States moved a draft resolution calling for cease-fire and withdrawal of Indian forces, which was vetoed by Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. Thereafter, another six resolutions including one by China were introduced calling for cease-fire and withdrawal of forces, some of which were accepted by Pakistan.
…due to behind the scene political machinations by India …implementation (cease-fire) was stalled till Dhaka fell…
However, due to behind the scene political machinations by India and her allies their passage and implementation was stalled till Dhaka fell on 16 December 1971 and the cease-fire had been perfidiously converted to surrender.” I took a careful look at the documents and was aghast to see the heading – which read Instrument of ‘Surrender’……” writes Lieutenant General J.F.R.Jacob, Chief of Staff, Indian, Eastern Army. (Lieutenant General J.F.R.Jacob, “Surrender at Dacca : Birth of a Nation).
Flawed national and operational strategy proved to; be disastrous for Pakistan , both politically and militarily. Power, national and operational strategy, the methodology of crisis and conflict management, and higher direction of war in which we had been found wanting in 1971.”
Source: http://www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk/AWPReview/TextContent.aspx?pId=197&rnd=446
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True all wars were started by Pakistan. But not 1971! We were sending help to guerillas since April/May 1971, and openly attacked them on November 21.
i agree and disagree of article but my Indian friends all the time forget the reality of life. my Indian friends all the time compare with Pakistan. let i clear a picture for you. In all wars Indian air force 4 time bigger than Pakistan air force, Indian army bigger than 3 times of Pakistan army, Indian navy 4 times bigger than Pakistan navy. Lets compare the losses Indian air force more losses in both wars yes my Indian friends may be disagree but they should read the neutral reviews then may eye opening, yes in 1971 war our army surrender yes we accept but if Indian army present in that situation which Pakistan army face Indian army cannot survive more than a day but Pakistan army fight till when west Pakistan order to surrender and i think its a way to clear the whole soldiers.In 1971 war Russian federation fully support the Indian with military hardware but Pakistan totally alone and no help from any world power but Pakistan over all army performance is good. Because they destroy and capture Indian lands. our submarine sank Indian ship khukhri and kirpan badly damage just after 6 days war and then totally silent by Indian side. in war you lost and win both direction. Every time in the nation history when you face trouble time but after every trouble the new nation come which more stronger than previous. i think after 1971 war Indian and Pakistan have not interested for full scale war because now both are nuclear capability and any one mistake can destroy every thing. if a bigger nation can win smaller achievement against a smaller force do you think its a victory? but i am happy that Indian all the time Pakistan as an equivalent opponent even size, population, infrastructure and military in all types Pakistan is smaller country. but still Pakistan present and till last day of earth it should be present on earth. Pakistan Zindabad
This is a brilliant piece of writing for saving the face infront of the people of the then west pakistan. they can boast of themselves infront of weak people. They have been found wanting when courage is required
This article is so poor that does not deserve any comment.
@Waffen SS – Then why are you commenting ? The article states the facts.
Discerning Pakistanis should ask themselves if this description rings true. How can it be that Pakistani Army won all engagements in the East and yet when it came to defending the most well defended fortifications that was Dhaka they surrendered? “Daal Mein Kuch Kaala Hai”. Read the history written by ex-Pakistani Amabassador to US Mr. Haqqani’s account. His account is a scholarly work that he completed while doing his academic training in the US. It closely reflects the history as it is taught in India. Pretty much all major battles were won by the Indian Armed Forces not withstanding the able defence put up by Pakistani Armed Forces in many places. And one can safely say that all the wars were started by Pakistan. These are facts of history. Pakistan refuses to learn from history. This write-up is a prime example of this phenomena. They are bound to repeat their mistakes again in the future. We, Indians, should remain vigilant even as we try to build bridges with the handful of sane people in Pakistan. Pakistanis whould also learn humility. Nobody believes in India that we won the war against China in 1962. We acknowledge our defeat and have learnt from it. In addition we don’t cause problems for China and treat it with respect. And we continue improving ties with them as reflected in our growing trade with China to the tune of around $100 Billion now. But Pakistanis, alas my fellow co-religionists, are a breed apart from the rest of humanity. This write-up completely ignores the injustice against Bangladeshis, Muslims and specifically against the Hindus living there, that drew India into the conflict. What is it in the mentality of people that refuses to acknowledges the wrongs committed by our own peopel against other fellow human beings?
Well said Mr Hari,
The pakistanis have always lived in denial of everything,Their history is steeped in it, They have lost to the Arabs, the afghans, Huns, Mongols,Just because they follow the same religion of the Arabs they think that they’re entitled to the victories of the Arabs and Turks, the arabs dont even give their daughter for marriage to the pakistani people they are still their stoogees when will they wake up, The Sindhis and backward class punjabis who sold them selves to the Arabs to be spared the deaths the brave Sikhs and Hindus endured. Now they will give many reasons to justify their Loss in 1971, 1965, 1947.
Let them dream as another power is going to rule them, the Taliban. So dreamers keep dreaming and enjoy your false perceptions of the world around you which your armed forces,show you.
Enjoy
Forget Dhaka surrender for a moment which was monumental loss of face for the Pakistani Army, where the above author belives that India concentrated an overwhelming force – which is true. But what about the following battles where pakistanis had the advantage:
1. What about battle of Longewala where Pakistanis had an overwhelming force to overwhelm a 120 men garrison (do not argue that IAF was brought in. It is a battle of survival and all forces needed to meet the challenge are good). Forty five Pakistanis tanks and 3,000 men had all night to route this small garrison of 120 men. That was another loss of face for Pakistanis.
2. What about the battles fought at Samba – Sakargarh sector. There were about four major battles invoving equal number of tanks and soldiers. There were countless other skrimishes. Pakistanis lost them all. There was a possibility of breakthru for Pakistani tanks moving forward to cut the Indian lines of communications to Kashmir. It did not happen. At one battle one tank squadron of Lt. Arun Khetarpal prevented the break thru. It was another loss of life.
I will not go into details of battles of 1965 at Burki and Dograi, Haji Pir, Khemkaran which the Pakistani Army loss. The latter could have scored an upset against India again at Jammu & River Tawi sector on September 1, 1965, but ten India Vampires of WWII vintage blasted ten of the lead tanks and the attack stopped way short of the objective after 10 hours of continous success. In 1965 India could have captured Sialkote, but political & military leaders were way to cautious to let another tank victory slip thru their hands.
I am not going thru that major Indian victory at see at Karachi when Petrol – Oil and Lubricants storage was set on fire and two Pakistani destroyers were sunk.
Yes, Pakistani Air Force scored well when they caught Vampires aircraft at Pathankote and Kalaikundi in the east on the ground turned 14 aircrafts into scrap metal. But air battles, mostly went to India.
@Waffen SS – Then why are you commenting ? The article states the facts.
@ Hari Sud – Not to forget Kargil.