COLUMN
New Delhi (NVI): It was perhaps the shortest war anywhere in the world, which resulted in the biggest victory for India and the most humiliating defeat for Pakistan, besides giving birth to an independent nation – Bangladesh.
On December 16, 1971, the Pakistan Army surrendered before the Indian Army in the then East Pakistan, with 93,000 of its troops laying down their arms in an unprecedented development. It also marked the culmination of fight for freedom of the people of East Bengal from Pakistani rule because of the brutalities and atrocities committed on them by the Pakistani authorities since 1947.
Pakistan was divided into two parts and Bangladesh came into being, thanks to the efforts of India and sacrifices made by its armed forces.
The surrender in East Pakistan had become inevitable for the Pakistan Army as it was surrounded on all sides. The Indian Army offered two choices to the Pakistan Army – surrender or get killed “unmercifully”.
“The Indian Army is in Bangladesh. Your Air Force has been destroyed. You are surrounded on all sides. And if you don’t surrender, you will be killed unmercifully,” an Indian Army General announced in Dacca (or Dhaka) for the Pakistani Generals to listen.
So, for Pakistan Army’s Commander in East Pakistan Lt Gen AAK Niazi, it was a bitter choice. He chose the humiliating surrender rather than annihilation of the troops under his command. Gen Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender before Indian Army Commander Lt Gen J S Aurora on December 16, 1971.
Interestingly, till a day prior to the announcement of surrender, Gen Niazi maintained that the Pakistan Army would fight till the last man standing and there was no question of surrender.
In fact, the Pakistan Army also kept fooling its citizens back home by planting stories that it had an upper hand in the war and Indian Army was facing reverses. But, ultimately, the Pakistan Army did not have the spirit to fight and it laid down its arms and, along with it, its respect.
It may be highlighted that after accepting surrender by the Pakistan Army and taking its 93,000 soldiers, including officers, as PoWs, the Indian Army showed an exemplary behaviour of treating the enemy soldiers with dignity.
The Indian Army not only provided all the amenities to the PoWs but also ensured protection to the Pakistani troops from angry Bengalis who were baying for their blood to avenge the brutalities inflicted on them over decades. The Pakistani PoWs were also evacuated safely, in batches, by the Indian Army from all parts of newly-created Bangladesh.
The Indian Army had also made huge gains on the Western side, capturing many territories of Pakistan and reaching Lahore, the capital of Punjab Province.
However, after the ceasefire was announced, India gave away all the gains without bargaining properly with Pakistan. India unconditionally handed back the territories and 93,000 troops to Pakistan, when there could have been bargaining for vacating Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and settling the Kashmir issue for once and all.
Also, while India returned all the Pakistani PoWs, Pakistan showed the utmost deceit by not returning Indian PoWs. At least 53 Indian PoWs have been confirmed to be in Pakistan but they have not been returned even till now.
