Page 6 - ch 19

Module - V India-Pakistan War-1971

Major Wars Post
The strategy adopted here was quick, three-pronged assault of nine infantry divisions
Independence
with attached armoured units and close air support that rapidly entered into the capital
city Dhaka of East Pakistan. Under the command of General Officer Commanding in
Chief of India Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora of Eastern Command the objective
of capturing and taking Dhaka was fully realized. Pakistan Army surrendered on 16
December 1971. It took only 13 days to defeat the Pakistan army. See Table 19.1 and
Note note that we took more than 90000 Prisoners of War.
Inter-Service Number of captured Officer Commanding
Branch Pakistani POWs

Pakistan Army 54,154 Lieutenant-General
Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi

Pakistan Navy/ 1,381 Rear-Admiral
Pakistan Marines Mohammad Shariff

Pakistan Air Force 833 Air Commodore Inamul Haq

Paramilitary/ 22,000 Major-General
East Pakistan Rifles/Police Rao Farman Ali

Civil government personnel 12,000 Governor
Abdul Motaleb Malik
Total: 90,368 ~

Table 19.1 Pakistan losses in the War in East Pakistan
(b) Western Front: On the Western front the main battles were fought in Jammu &
Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. As in the past, Pakistan first attacked Poonch
and Chamb. Attack in Poonch was over within 3 days. In Chamb too Indian 10
Infantry Division fought a gallant battle. Pakistan however, managed to capture
Mandiala Heights. Because of heavy losses it pulled back and Indian army
reoccupied the lost positions. Indian army also captured some important heights
in Kargil. In Punjab the noteworthy attack was in Shakargarh which is an area
opposite Pathankot. See Map 19.3 for battles in Shakargarh.

62
62
MILITARY HISTORY