Major Events That Forced 93,000 Pakistani Soldiers To Surrender In 1971; Vijay Diwas 2023 » Today Latest Stories
Within three days, the Indian Air Force established air superiority over East Pakistan.
India celebrates Vijay Diwas today to mark the sacrifice of the East Pakistan army in the war of 1971. Fifty-two years ago this war led to the liberation of East Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh.
Other important developments in India’s favor led to the fall of the Pak government in Dhaka and the surrender of over 90,000 troops in East Pakistan in a two-day war.
Land, Sea and Air Service
East Pakistan was separated from the western half following India’s declaration of a no-fly zone for Pakistani aircraft. The blockade of the sea in the west disrupted all the supply lines of aid and equipment.
Just three days after the start of the war, the Indian Air Force established air power in East Pakistan, which enabled the military to advance inside Bangladesh. INS Vikrant, the navy’s aircraft carrier, and naval aviators blockaded the eastern flank, cutting off escape routes and Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC).
Meanwhile, Indian troops 4, 33 and 2 Corps marched into Bangladesh from three directions. His aim was to capture the “walled cities” built by the Pakistani army and go through the gaps to take Dhaka. Fall of Sylhet, Chittagong, Tangail, Khulna, Jessore, etc. it ensured that no escape route was left.
The War of Minds
Before the war, the Pakistani army in the east under the leadership of General AAK Niazi believed that the Indian state would take the areas along the border of West Bengal. These false ideas forced Pakistan to build “security cities” around Dhaka, leaving an inadequate army in the capital. The fall of any city made Dhaka look closer and the air drop on Tangail, which was known to house 5,000 troops, was particularly painful.
Then the army chief General Sam Manekshaw (later Field Marshal) broadcast a message to the Pakistani army after the fall of Jessore on December 8, warning the Pakistani army and assuring them that “Once you surrender, you will be honored as per the Geneva Convention”. On December 10, in another message, General Manekshaw said, “Your opposition is strong but futile… Your leaders are giving false hopes.”
US, China Fail to Come to the Rescue
Lieutenant General Niazi is said to have told Maj General JFR Jacob after he surrendered that he realized the defeat seven days before the army surrendered. Pakistan has pinned its hopes on the US and China.
India’s support from the USSR made Pakistan seek help from the US during the Cold War. The Chinese were recovering from the effects of the ‘Cultural Revolution’ and the inter-Indian war did not favor them. A large-scale mobilization of Chinese troops during the winter was to be carried out to penetrate into East Pakistan and ensure that supply lines were maintained. For China, diverting Indian forces to the northeast meant going into a very hot cold war.
Then US President Richard Nixon ordered the deployment of the Seventh Fleet which has a nuclear powered aircraft carrier – USS Enterprise. President Nixon believed that the presence of US warships based on the INS Vikrant, would weaken the blockade of the Indian military and force the navy to retreat due to US “Gunboat Diplomacy”. The Indo-Soviet Treaty helped. USSR sent frigates, cruisers, tanks and destroyers with atomic weapons.
This deployment brought the two powers against each other and arms were disbanded, leaving Pakistan alone in the east.
Give yourself up
The rapid advance of the Indians along with the air and naval forces disrupted any support in East Pakistan. In the Western Theater, the Pakistani army was able to put up a strong resistance, and the Pakistan Air Force provided air support to its troops, but in the east, the fall of Dhaka was inevitable.
On December 13, General Niazi sent a signal to Rawalpindi in West Pakistan but was told to continue fighting and keep as much territory as possible. A day later, the Indian Air Force bombed the Governor’s residence in Dhaka while a meeting was being held there. The airstrikes were so disruptive that the government of East Pakistan resigned on the spot. This was the last straw on the camel’s back and Niazi chose peace instead of fighting more.
