Indo-Pakistani War of 1971
Part of the Indo-Pakistani Wars
TIME Magazine on the build up to War
Date December 3-16, 1971 Location Current day Bangladesh and Indian-Pakistani western border Result Decisive Indian victory
Combatants
India	Pakistan
Commanders
Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora	A. A. K. Niazi
Strength
500,000+ troops[citation needed]	400,000+ troops[citation needed]
Casualties
3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1]	c. 20,000 killed and wounded, 93,000 POW captured

The Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 was a major military conflict between India and Pakistan. The war is closely associated with Bangladesh Liberation War (sometimes also referred to as Pakistani Civil War). There is an argument about exact dates of the war. However, the armed conflict on India's western front during the period between 3 December 1971 and 16 December 1971 is called the Indo-Pakistani War by both the Bangladeshi and Indian armies. The war ended in a crushing defeat for Pakistan military in just a fortnight. Since both nations achieved independence in August 1947, there have been three major wars and one minor war between India and Pakistan. ... Image File history File links TIME-IndiavPak. ... Two distinct views exist on the meaning of time. ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Pakistan. ... Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw (born April 3, 1914) was the Indian Army Chief of Staff who led the Indian forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Arora (February 13, 1916 - May 3, 2005) was the Indian commander whose comprehensive defeat of Pakistan in 1971 led to the creation of Bangladesh. ... Lt. ... Image File history File links White_flag_icon. ... Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ... Since both nations achieved independence in August 1947, there have been three major wars and one minor war between India and Pakistan. ... The Indo-Pakistani War of 1947 sometimes known as the First Kashmir War was a war fought between India and Pakistan over the region of Kashmir from 1947 to 1949. ... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Gen J N Chaudhuri, Lt Gen Harbakhsh Singh Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Gen Mohd Musa Casualties 3,264 killed [1] 8,623 wounded [1] (From July to ceasefire) 3,800[2] - 6,917 killed [3] (17 day period alone) The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, also... Combatants India Pakistan, Kashmiri secessionists Strength 30,000 5,000 Casualties Indian Estimates: ~600 killed,[1] ~1400 wounded 1 taken Prisoner by Pakistan Pakistani Estimates: 800 killed,[2] 2200 wounded[2] Estimates: 4000+ casualties [3] [4] Pakistani Estimates: 700[5]–3000 killed[6][7] 8 taken Prisoners by India The... Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders • General M A G Osmani • General Jagjit Singh Aurora General A. A. K. Niazi Strength India: 500,000+ Mukti Bahini: 100,000[1] Pakistan Army: 365,000 Paramilitary: 280,000 [1] Casualties India: 1,426 KIA 3,611 Wounded (Official) Mukti Bahini: NA* ~8... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... The Indian Armed Forces is Indias primary defence organisation. ... Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 7th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ...

Background

Main article: Bangladesh Liberation War

The Indo-Pakistani conflict was sparked by the Bangladesh Liberation War, a conflict between the traditionally dominant West Pakistanis and the majority East Pakistanis. The war ignited after the 1970 Pakistani election, in which the East Pakistani Awami League won 167 of 169 seats in East Pakistan, thus securing a simple majority in the 313-seat lower house of the Pakistani parliament. Awami League leader Sheikh Mujibur Rahman presented Six Points and claimed the right to form the government. After the leader of the Pakistan People's Party, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, refused to give premiership of Pakistan to Mujibur, President Yahya Khan called in the military, which was made up largely of West Pakistanis. Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders • General M A G Osmani • General Jagjit Singh Aurora General A. A. K. Niazi Strength India: 500,000+ Mukti Bahini: 100,000[1] Pakistan Army: 365,000 Paramilitary: 280,000 [1] Casualties India: 1,426 KIA 3,611 Wounded (Official) Mukti Bahini: NA* ~8... Independent (as part of Pakistan) from British Empire - August 14, 1947 Separated from East Pakistan as Pakistan - March 26, 1971 Capital Karachi Language Urdu, English West Pakistan consisted of the western part of Pakistan from 1947 until 1971, when East Pakistan became Bangladesh and West Pakistan became the present-day... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ... The Bangladesh Awami League (বাংলাদেশ আওয়ামী লীগ Bāŋlādeś Āowāmī Līg) or the Bangadesh Peoples League is the main opposition party in Bangladesh. ... States currently utilizing parliamentary systems are denoted in orange and red—the former being constitutional monarchies where authority is vested in a parliament, and the latter being parliamentary republics whose parliaments are effectively supreme over a separate head of state. ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; known as Bangabandhu (Friend of Bangladesh) to his people in Bangladesh. ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman introduced the 6-point-demand on March 23, 1966, and it was carried out by the Awami league and the students league. ... The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) is a mainstream political party in Pakistan. ... Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Urdu: ذوالفقار علی بھٹو) (Sindhi: ذوالفقار علي ڀُٽو) (January 5, 1928 – April 4, 1979) was a Pakistani politician and a statesman of international repute. ... Flag of the President of Pakistan The President of Pakistan (Sadr-e-Mamlikat or صدرِ مملکہ in Urdu) is Head of State of Pakistan. ... Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan (February 4, 1917 – August 10, 1980) was the President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan. ...

Mass arrests of dissidents began, and attempts were made to disarm East Pakistani soldiers and police. After several days of strikes and non-cooperation movements, Pakistani military cracked down on Dhaka on the night of March 25, 1971. The Awami League was banished, and many members fled into exile in India. Mujib was arrested and taken to West Pakistan. Dhaka (previously Dacca; Bangla: ঢাকা Ḍhākā), population 12,560,000[1] (2005 UN projection for statistical metropolitan area), is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... See Exile (disambiguation) for other meanings. ...

On 27 March 1971, Ziaur Rahman, a rebellious major in the Pakistani army, declared the independence of Bangladesh on behalf of Mujibur. In April, exiled Awami League leaders formed a government-in-exile in Boiddonathtola of Meherpur. The East Pakistan Rifles, an elite paramilitary force, defected to the rebellion. A guerrilla troop of civilians, the Mukti Bahini, was formed to help the Bangladesh Army. March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... Ziaur Rahman (Bangla: জিয়াউর রহমান) (January 19, 1936 – May 30, 1981) was Bangladeshs President. ... A government in exile is a political group that claims to be a countrys legitimate government, but for various reasons is unable to exercise its legal power, and instead resides in a foreign country. ... Meherpur (Bangla: ????????) is a district in Western Bangladesh. ... Bangladesh Rifles is a paramilitary force in Bangladesh. ... A paramilitary organization is a group of civilians trained and organized in a military fashion. ... A defector is a person who gives up allegiance to one political entity in exchange for allegiance to another. ... Look up guerrilla in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Liberation War commemoration poster Mukti Bahini (Bangla: মুক্তি বাহিনী) (Liberation Army), was a guerrilla force which fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. ... Official flag of Bangladesh Army Bangladesh Army, or Bānglādesh Shenā Bāhini (Bānglā: বাংলাদেশ সেনা বাহিনী) in Bangla, is a branch of Bangladesh Armed Forces. ...

India's involvement in Bangladesh Liberation War

On 27 March 1971, the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, expressed full support of her government to the Bangladeshi struggle for freedom. The Bangladesh-India border was opened to allow the tortured and panic-stricken Bangladeshis safe shelter in India. The governments of West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Meghalaya and Tripura established refugee camps along the border. Exiled Bangladeshi army officers and voluntary workers from India immediately started using these camps for the recruitment and training of Mukti Bahini guerrillas. March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (87th in leap years). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Hindi: , pronunciation: ) (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984) was Prime Minister of India from January 19, 1966 to March 24, 1977, and again from January 14, 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. ... Torture is any act by which severe pain, whether physical or psychological, is intentionally inflicted on a person as a means of intimidation, deterrence, revenge, punishment, sadism, or information gathering. ... West Bengal   (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, Pōshchimbäŋgō) is a state in eastern India. ... For other uses, see Bihar (disambiguation). ... Assam now renamed to Asom (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a northeastern state of India with its capital at Dispur. ... Meghalaya (मेघालय in DevanāgarÄ«) is a small state in north-eastern India. ... Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Tripura Tripura/Tipra (Bengali: ত্রিপুরা, Hindi: त्रिपुरा) is a state in North East India. ... Refugee camp for Rwandans located in what is now the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo following the Rwandan Genocide A refugee camp is a camp built up by governments or NGOs (such as the ICRC) to receive refugees. ... Recruitment refers to the process of finding possible candidates for a job or function, undertaken by recruiters. ... Liberation War commemoration poster Mukti Bahini (Bangla: মুক্তি বাহিনী) (Liberation Army), was a guerrilla force which fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh War of Independence in 1971. ...

As the massacres in East Pakistan escalated, an estimated 10 million refugees fled to India, causing financial hardship and instability in the country. The United States, a long and close ally of Pakistan, continued to ship arms and supplies to West Pakistan.

Indira Gandhi launched a diplomatic offensive in the early fall of 1971 touring Europe, and was successful in getting both the United Kingdom and France to break with the United States, and block any pro-Pakistan directives in the United Nations security council. Gandhi's greatest coup was on 9 August when she signed a twenty-year treaty of friendship and co-operation with the Soviet Union, greatly shocking the United States, and providing India with insurance that the People's Republic of China would not be involved in the conflict. China, an ally of Pakistan, had been providing moral support, but little military aid, and did not advance troops to its border with India. World map showing Europe Political map (neighboring countries in Asia and Africa also shown) Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of the Earth. ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ...

Operation of the Mukti Bahini caused severe casualties to the Pakistani Army, which was in control of all district headquarters. As the flow of refugees swelled to a tide, the economic costs for India began to escalate. India began providing support including weapons and training for the Mukti Bahini, and began shelling military targets in East Pakistan.

India's official engagement with Pakistan

Lt. Gen A. A. K. Niazi signs the instrument of surrender on December 16, surrendering his forces to Lt. Gen J.S. Arora.

By November, war seemed inevitable; a massive buildup of Indian forces on the border with East Pakistan had begun. The Indian military waited for winter, when the drier ground would make for easier operations and Himalayan passes would be closed by snow, preventing any Chinese intervention. On 23 November, Yahya Khan declared a state of emergency in all of Pakistan and told his people to prepare for war. Lt. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ... Perspective view of the Himalayas and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 38 days remaining. ...

On the evening of Sunday, 3 December, the Pakistani air force launched sorties on eight airfields in north-western India. This attack was inspired by the Arab-Israeli Six Day War and the success of the Israeli preemptive strike. However, the Indians had anticipated such a move and the raid was not successful. The Indian Air Force launched a counter-attack and quickly achieved air superiority. On the Eastern front, the Indian Army joined forces with the Mukti Bahini to form the Mitro Bahini (Allied Forces); the next day the Indian forces responded with a massive coordinated air, sea, and land assault on East Pakistan. December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Arabs (Arabic: عرب) are an ethnic group who are predominantly speakers of the Arabic language, mainly found throughout the Middle East and North Africa. ... The 1967 Arab-Israeli War, also known as the Six-Day War or June War, was fought between Israel and its Arab neighbors Egypt, Jordan, and Syria. ... Mitro Bahini (meaning Allied forces in Bangla) was a military force composed of Bangladesh Army (as part of Mukti Bahini) and the Indian Army in December 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. ...

Yahya Khan counter-attacked India in the West in an attempt to capture territory which might have been used to bargain for territory they expected to lose in the east. The land battle in the West was crucial for any hope of preserving a united Pakistan. The Indian Army quickly responded to the Pakistan Army's movements in the west and made some initial gains, including capturing around 5,500 sq miles of Pakistan territory (land gained by India in Pakistani Kashmir and the Pakistani Punjab sector were later ceded in the Shimla Agreement of 1972, as a gesture of goodwill). The Indian Army described its activities in East Pakistan as: The Punjab or Panjab (Punjabi/Urdu: پنجاب) province of Pakistan is the countrys most populous region and is home to the Punjabis and various other groups. ... Shimla (Hindi: शिमला, Urdu: شملہ), the summer capital of the erstwhile British Raj in India, is a city and a municipal corporation in Shimla district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. ...

"The Indian Army merely provided the coup de grace to what the people of Bangladesh had commenced--active resistance to the Pakistani Government and its Armed Forces on their soil." Coup de Grace was a a multimedia project under which Michael Moynihan released recordings and print. ...

A newspaper cover (1971)

At sea, the Indian Navy proved its superiority by the success of Operation Trident, the name given to the attack on Karachi's port. It also resulted in the destruction of 2 destroyers and one minesweeper, and was followed by the successful Operation Python. The waters in the east were also secured by the Indian Navy. The Indian Air Force conducted 4,000 sorties in the west while its counterpart, the PAF put up little retalliation, partly because of the paucity of non-Bengali technical personnel. This lack of retaliation has also been attributed to the deliberate decision of the PAF High Command to cut its losses as it had already incurred huge losses in the conflict.[1] In the east, the small air contingent of Pakistan Air Force No. 14 Sqn was destroyed achieving air superiority in the east. Faced with insurmountable losses, the Pakistani military capitulated in just under a fortnight. On December 16, the Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrendered. The next day India announced a unilateral ceasefire, to which Pakistan agreed. A copy of the Tribune newspaper proclaiming Indias victory and Pakistans surrender in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. ... A copy of the Tribune newspaper proclaiming Indias victory and Pakistans surrender in the 1971 Indo-Pakistani War. ... The crest of the Indian navy with the motto Shano Varuna - meaning May the Lord of the Oceans be Auspicious Unto Us. The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the Armed Forces of India. ... Combatants India Pakistan Strength 3 Missile boats, 2 Anti-submarine patrol vessels Casualties None Heavy Operation Trident and its follow up Operation Python were naval attacks launched on Pakistans port city of Karachi by the Indian Navy during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Karachi Towns. ... USS Lassen, an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer In naval terminology, a destroyer is a fast and maneuverable yet long-endurance warship intended to escort larger vessels in a fleet or battle group and defend them against smaller, short-range attackers (originally torpedo boats, later submarines and aircraft). ... USS Pivot (AM 276) World War II United States Admirable Class Minesweeper shown in the Gulf of Mexico on sea trials 12 July 1944 Image:Hameln Class. ... After independence from the British in 1947, India was divided along the lines of religious majority in to 2 nations, viz. ... The Crest of the Indian Air Force. ... Air superiority is the dominance in the air power of one side air forces of another side during a military campaign. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... A ceasefire is a temporary stoppage of a war, or any armed conflict, where each side of the conflict agrees with the other to suspend aggressive actions. ...

American and Soviet involvement

The United States supported Pakistan both politically and materially.

Nixon, backed by Henry Kissinger feared Soviet expansion into South and Southeast Asia. Pakistan was a close ally of the People's Republic of China, with whom Nixon had been negotiating a rapprochement and where he intended to visit in February 1972. Nixon feared that an Indian invasion of West Pakistan would mean total Soviet domination of the region, and that it would seriously undermine the global position of the United States and the regional position of America's new tacit ally, China. In order to demonstrate to China the bona fides of the United States as an ally, and in direct violation of the US Congress-imposed sanctions on Pakistan, Nixon sent military supplies to Pakistan and routed them through Jordan and Iran ^[2], while also encouraging China to increase its arms supplies to Pakistan. Henry Alfred Kissinger (born Heinz Alfred Kissinger on May 27, 1923) is a German-born Jewish American diplomat, Nobel laureate and statesman. ... Sino-American relations (Simplified Chinese: 中美关系; pinyin: Zhōng-Měi Guānxì) refers to international relations between the United States and China. ... Independent (as part of Pakistan) from British Empire - August 14, 1947 Separated from East Pakistan as Pakistan - March 26, 1971 Capital Karachi Language Urdu, English West Pakistan consisted of the western part of Pakistan from 1947 until 1971, when East Pakistan became Bangladesh and West Pakistan became the present-day...

The Nixon administration also ignored reports it received of the 'genocidal' activities of the Pakistani Army in East Pakistan, most notably the Blood telegram. Archer Kent Blood (1923-2004) was an American diplomat in Bangladesh. ...

But when Pakistan's defeat seemed certain, Nixon sent the USS Enterprise to the Bay of Bengal, a move deemed by the Indians as a nuclear threat. Enterprise arrived on station on December 11, 1971. On 6 December and 13 December, the Soviet Navy dispatched two groups of ships, armed with nuclear missiles, from Vladivostok; they trailed U.S. Task Force 74 in the Indian Ocean from 18 December until 7 January 1972. Enterprise Logo The USS Enterprise (CVN-65) is the worlds first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and the eighth U.S. Naval vessel to bear the name. ... A map showing the location of the Bay of Bengal. ... December 11 is the 345th day (346th in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... December 6 is the 340th day (341st on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 13 is the 347th day of the year (348th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Soviet Navy (Russian: Военно-морской флот СССР, Voyenno-morskoy flot SSSR, literally Naval military forces of the USSR) was the naval arm of the Soviet armed forces. ... City and harbor of Vladivostok with the Statue to the fighters for Soviet power in the Far East (bottom right) Vladivostok (Russian: ) is the administrative center of Primorsky Krai, Russia, situated close to the Russo-Chinese border and North Korea. ... December 18 is the 352nd day of the year (353rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... January 7 is the seventh day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

The Soviet Union had sympathized with the Bangladeshis, and supported the Indian Army and Mukti Bahini during the war, recognizing that the independence of Bangladesh would weaken the position of its rivals - the United States and China. The USSR also believed in Bangladesh's right to freedom from the suppression of the Pakistanis.^{[citation needed]} It gave assurances to India that if a confrontation with the United States or China developed, the USSR would take counter-measures. This was enshrined in the Indo-Soviet friendship treaty signed in August 1971. The Soviets also sent a nuclear submarine to ward off the threat posed by USS Enterprise in the Indian Ocean.

Effects

The war led to the immediate surrender of Pakistani forces to the Mitro Bahini. Bangladesh became an independent nation, and the third most populous Muslim country. Loss of East Pakistan demoralized the Pakistani military and Yahya Khan resigned, to be replaced by Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Mujibur Rahman was released from West Pakistani prison and returned to Dhaka on January 10, 1972. Mitro Bahini (meaning Allied forces in Bangla) was a military force composed of Bangladesh Army (as part of Mukti Bahini) and the Indian Army in December 1971 during the Bangladesh Liberation War. ... Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (January 5, 1928 - April 4, 1979) was a Pakistani politician who served as President, from 1971 to 1973, and as Prime Minister, from 1973 to 1977, of Pakistan. ... January 10 is the 10th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1972 (MCMLXXII) was a leap year starting on Saturday. ...

The exact cost of the violence on the people of East Pakistan is not known. R.J. Rummel cites estimates ranging from one to three million people killed.^[3] Other estimates place the death toll lower at 300,000. Rudolph Joseph Rummel (born October 21, 1932) is professor emeritus of political science at the University of Hawaii and alternative historian. ...

On the brink of defeat around December 14, the Pakistani Army and its local collaborators systematically killed a large number of Bengali doctors, teachers and intellectuals, part of a pogrom against the Hindu minorities who constituted the majority of urban educated intellectuals. Young men, who were seen as possible rebels, were also targeted, especially students. December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Pakistan Army Coat of Arms Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistan Military responsible for land based military operations. ... Collaboration, literally, consists of working together with one or more others. ... Bengal, known as Bôngo (Bengali: বঙ্গ), Bangla (বাংলা), Bôngodesh (বঙ্গদেশ), or Bangladesh (বাংলাদেশ) in Bangla, is a region in the northeast of South Asia. ... Pogrom (from Russian: ; from громить IPA: - to wreak havoc, to demolish violently) is a form of riot, a massive violent attack on a particular group; ethnic, religious or other, primarily characterized by destruction of their environment (homes, businesses, religious centers). ...

A Pakistan stamp depicting the 90,000 PoWs in Indian camps. This stamp was issued with the political aim of raising the POW issue at a global level in securing their release.

The cost of the war for Pakistan in monetary and human resources was high. In the book Can Pakistan Survive? Pakistan based author Tariq Ali writes, "Pakistan lost half its navy, a quarter of its airforce and a third of its army." Image File history File links PakistanPoW.jpg Stamp issued by Pakistan representing 90000 prisoners of war in India. ... Tariq Ali Tariq Ali (born 1943) is an author, filmmaker, and historian. ...

India took approximately 93,000 prisoners of war that included Pakistani soldiers as well as some of their East Pakistani collaborators. 79,676 of these prisoners were uniformed personnel, of which 55,692 were Army, 16,354 Paramilitary, 5,296 Police, 1000 Navy and 800 PAF. ^[4]. The remaining prisoners were civlians - either family members of the military personnel or bihari razarkars. Geneva Convention definition A prisoner of war (POW) is a soldier, sailor, airman, or marine who is imprisoned by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict. ...

It was one of the largest surrenders since World War II. India originally wished to try them for war crimes for the brutality in East Pakistan, but eventually acceded to releasing them as a gesture of reconciliation. The Simla Agreement created the following year, also saw most of Pakistani territory (more than 13,000 km²) being given back to Pakistan to create "lasting peace" between the two nations. This article is becoming very long. ... In the context of war, a war crime is a punishable offense under International Law, for violations of the laws of war by any person or persons, military or civilian. ... The Simla Agreement refers to the accord signed by India and Pakistan in the Indian city of Simla on July 2, 1972. ...

Important dates

• March 7, 1971: Sheikh Mujibur Rahman declares that, "The current struggle is a struggle for independence", in a public meeting attended by almost a million people in Dhaka.
• March 25, 1971: Pakistani forces start Operation Searchlight, a systematic plan to eliminate any resistance. Thousands of people are killed in student dormitories and police barracks in Dhaka.
• March 26, 1971: Major Ziaur Rahman declares independence from Kalurghat Radio Station, Chittagong. The message is relayed to the world by Indian radio stations.
• April 17, 1971: Exiled leaders of Awami League form a provisional government.
• December 3, 1971: War between India and Pakistan officially begins when West Pakistan launches a series of preemptive airstrikes on Indian airfields.
• December 14, 1971: Systematic elimination of Bengali intellectuals is started by Pakistani Army and local collaborators.
• December 16, 1971: Lieutenant-General A. A. K. Niazi, supreme commander of Pakistani Army in East Pakistan, surrender to the Allied Forces (Mitro Bahini) represented by Lieutenant General Aurora of Indian Army at the surrender. Bangladesh gains independence.

March 7 is the 66th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (67th in leap years). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1971 calendar). ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... Operation Searchlight was a planned genocide carried out by the Pakistan Army to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in erstwhile East Pakistan in 1971. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (86th in leap years). ... Ziaur Rahman (Bangla: জিয়াউর রহমান) (January 19, 1936 – May 30, 1981) was Bangladeshs President. ... Chittagong (Bengali: চট্টগ্রাম, Chôţţogram) is the major seaport and second largest city of Bangladesh. ... April 17 is the 107th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (108th in leap years). ... December 3 is the 337th (in leap years the 338th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... December 16 is the 350th day of the year (351st in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Gen. ... East Pakistan was a former province of Pakistan which existed between 1955 and 1971. ... Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Arora (February 13, 1916 - May 3, 2005) was the Indian commander whose comprehensive defeat of Pakistan in 1971 led to the creation of Bangladesh. ...

Military awards

For bravery, a number of soldiers and officers on both sides were awarded the highest military award of respective countries. Following is a list of the recipients of the Indian award Param Vir Chakra, the Pakistani award Nishan-E-Haider and the Bangladeshi award Bir Sreshtho: The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ... Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 9th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ... The Bir Sreshtho (Bangla: বীরশ্রেষ্ঠ) (The Most Valiant Hero) is the highest military award of Bangladesh. ...

India

Recipients of the Param Vir Chakra: The Param Vir Chakra is an Indian military decoration given for valour in combat operations. ...

• Lance Naik Albert Ekka (Posthumously)
• Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon (Posthumously)
• Second Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal ( Posthumously )
• Major Hoshiar Singh

Lance Naik (L/Nk) was the equivalent rank to Lance Corporal in the British Indian Army, ranking below Naik. ... Albert Ekka,(born 27 December 1942-died 3 December 1971), Zari village, Ranchi district, Jharkhand State, India, was enrolled in the 14 Guards of the Indian army on 27 December 1962. ... A Flying Officers sleeve/shoulder insignia Flying Officer (Fg Off in the RAF; FLGOFF in the RAAF; FGOFF in the RNZAF; F/O in the former RCAF) is a junior commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries. ... Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon, PVC Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was born on July 17, 1943. ... Second Lieutenant is the lowest commissioned rank in many armed forces. ... 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal, PVC (1950-1971) 2nd Lieutenant Arun Khetarpal (14 October 1950 - 16 December 1971) born in Pune, Maharashtra joined the 17 Poona Horse of the Indian Army on 13 June 1971. ... Major is a military rank denoting an officer of mid-level command status. ... Category: ...

Pakistan

Recipients of the Nishan-E-Haider: Military manpower Military age 16 years of age Availability 39,028,014 (2005) Males ages 16-49 Reaching military age males: 1,969,055 (2005) Active troops 620,000 (Ranked 9th) Military expenditures Dollar figure $3. ...

• Major Muhammad Akram (Posthumously)
• Pilot Officer Rashid Minhas (Posthumously)
• Major Shabir Sharif (Posthumously)
• Sowar Muhammad Hussain (Posthumously)
• Lance Naik Muhammad Mahfuz (Posthumously)

Major is a military rank denoting an officer of mid-level command status. ... Muhammad Akram (Urdu: محمد اکرم ) was born: 1938 in Dingha Village, District of Gujrat, Punjab, Pakistan. ... A Pilot Officers sleeve/shoulder insignia Pilot Officer (Plt Off in the RAF; PLTOFF in the RAAF and RNZAF, P/O in the former RCAF) is the lowest substantive commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries, ranking only above Acting... Rashid Minhas Rashid Minhas or Rashid Minhas Shaheed (Urdu: راشد منہاس) (February 17, 1951–August 20, 1971) was a Pilot Officer in the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. ... Major is a military rank denoting an officer of mid-level command status. ... We dont have an article called Sowar Start this article Search for Sowar in. ... Lance Naik (L/Nk) was the equivalent rank to Lance Corporal in the British Indian Army, ranking below Naik. ... 1. ...

Bangladesh

See: Recipients of Bir Sreshtho Combatants Mukti Bahini India Pakistan Commanders • General M A G Osmani • General Jagjit Singh Aurora General A. A. K. Niazi Strength India: 500,000+ Mukti Bahini: 100,000[1] Pakistan Army: 365,000 Paramilitary: 280,000 [1] Casualties India: 1,426 KIA 3,611 Wounded (Official) Mukti Bahini: NA* ~8... The Bir Sreshtho (Bangla: বীরশ্রেষ্ঠ) (The Most Valiant Hero) is the highest military award of Bangladesh. ...

See also

Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi (Hindi: , pronunciation: ) (November 19, 1917 – October 31, 1984) was Prime Minister of India from January 19, 1966 to March 24, 1977, and again from January 14, 1980 until her assassination on October 31, 1984. ... Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw Field Marshal Sam Hormusji Framji Jamshedji Manekshaw (born April 3, 1914) was the Indian Army Chief of Staff who led the Indian forces during the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. ... K.P. Candeth (October 23, 1916 – May 19, 2003) was a senior Indian army officer who led operations to liberate Goa from Portugese control and served briefly as the military governor of the place. ... Lt-Gen Jagjit Singh Arora (February 13, 1916 - May 3, 2005) was the Indian commander whose comprehensive defeat of Pakistan in 1971 led to the creation of Bangladesh. ... Zulfikar Ali Bhutto (Urdu: ذوالفقار علی بھٹو) (Sindhi: ذوالفقار علي ڀُٽو) (January 5, 1928 – April 4, 1979) was a Pakistani politician and a statesman of international repute. ... Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan (February 4, 1917 – August 10, 1980) was the President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan. ... Lt. ... General Gul Hassan Khan was the Chief of Army Staff, Pakistan. ... Major General (R) Rao Farman Ali Maj Gen Rao Farman Ali Khan (1923 - January 21, 2004). ... Sahabzada Yaqub Ali Khan Sahabzada Yaqub Khan (born 1920) was the International Face of Pakistan for many years. ... Tikka Khan (1915–2002) was Pakistans Chief of Army Staff from March 1972–March 1976). ... Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; known as Bangabandhu (Friend of Bangladesh) to his people in Bangladesh. ... Tajuddin Ahmed was the first prime minister of Bangladesh from 11 April 1971 until 13 January 1972. ... Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani, better known by General M.A.G. Osmani (1 September 1918-16 February 1984)was the supreme commander of Mukti Bahini and Bangladesh Armed Forces during the Bangladesh Liberation War. ... Ziaur Rahman (Bangla: জিয়াউর রহমান) (January 19, 1936 – May 30, 1981) was Bangladeshs President. ... Khaled Mosharraf Bir Uttom, was a Bangladeshi army officer and war hero. ...

References

1. ^ ^a b Official Government of India Statement giving numbers of KIA - Parliament of India Website
2. ^ Shalom, Stephen R., The Men Behind Yahya in the Indo-Pak War of 1971
3. ^ Rummel, Rudolph J., "Statistics of Democide: Genocide and Mass Murder Since 1900", ISBN 3-8258-4010-7, Chapter 8, table 8.1
4. ^ Huge bag of prisoners in our hands The Liberation Times

• General Niazi (1998). Betrayal of East Pakistan. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-18-577727-1.
• "The Rediff Interview/Lt Gen A A Khan Niazi", Rediff, February 2, 2004.

February 2 is the 33rd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Further reading

• D K Palit The Lightning Campaign: The Indo-Pakistan War 1971 Compton Press Ltd (1972), ISBN 0-900193-10-7
• J R Saigal Pakistan Splits: The Birth of Bangladesh Manas Publications (2004), ISBN 81-7049-124-X
• J Hanhimaki The Flawed Architect: Henry Kissinger and American Foreign Policy Oxford University Press (2004)

External links

• A complete coverage of the war from the Indian perspective
• Actual conversation from the then US President Nixon and Henry Kissinger during the 1971 War - US Department of State's Official archive.
• Indian Army: Major Operations
• Pakistan: Partition and Military Succession USA Archives
• Pakistan intensifies air raid on India BBC
• A day by day account of the war as seen in a virtual newspaper.
• The Tilt: The U.S. and the South Asian Crisis of 1971.
• Maps depicting the conflict areas in the subcontinent during the war
• Dec 16, 1971: any lessons learned? By Ayaz Amir - Pakistan's Dawn (newspaper)
• India-Pakistan 1971 War as covered by TIME
• Indian Air Force Combat Kills in the 1971 war (unofficial), Centre for Indian Military History