Within three days, the Indian Air Force established air superiority in East Pakistan.

India celebrates Vijay Diwas right this moment to mark the give up of East Pakistan troops within the 1971 battle. Fifty-two years in the past the battle led to the liberation of East Pakistan and the creation of Bangladesh. 

Some essential occasions performed in India’s favour that led to the autumn of Pak regime in Dhaka and the give up of over 90,000 troops in East Pakistan in a fortnight of combating.

Land, Sea and Air Operation

East Pakistan was remoted from its western half following India’s declaration of a no-fly zone for Pakistani aeroplanes. A naval blockade within the west disrupted all routes to provide aid and ammunition.

Within three days of the beginning of the battle, the Indian Air Force established air superiority in East Pakistan, which helped within the swift advance of the military deep inside Bangladesh. INS Vikrant, the navy’s plane provider, and naval aviators blocked reinforcements to the east, slicing off escape routes and Sea Lines of Communication (SLOC).

Meanwhile, the Indian Army’s 4, 33 and a couple of Corps marched towards Bangladesh from three instructions. The goal was to seize the “fortress cities” constructed by Pakistani troops and transfer by the gaps to tackle Dhaka. The fall of Sylhet, Chittagong, Tangail, Khulna, Jessore, and many others. ensured no escape route was left. 

Psychological Warfare

Before the battle started, the Pakistani troops within the east led by General AAK Niazi believed that India would take territories alongside the border in West Bengal. This misunderstanding compelled Pakistan to create “fortress cities” round Dhaka, leaving inadequate troops within the capital. The fall of every metropolis made Dhaka look nearer and air dropping in Tangail, which was reported as a paradrop of 5,000 troops, was a psychological blow.

Then military chief General Sam Manekshaw (later Field Marshal) broadcast a message for Pakistani troops after the autumn of Jessore on December 8, warning Pakistani troops and assuring them “Once you surrender, you shall be treated with dignity as per Geneva Convention”. On December 10, in one other message, General Manekshaw mentioned, “Your resistance is gallant but fruitless…Your commanders are giving false hopes.” 

US, China Fail To Come To The Rescue

Lt Gen Niazi reportedly informed Maj General JFR Jacob after the give up that he had recognised defeat at the least seven days earlier than the troops gave up arms. Pakistan had pinned its hopes on the US and China.  

India’s assist from the USSR prompted Pakistan to hunt assist from the US in the course of the Cold War. The Chinese had been recovering from the influence of the ‘Cultural Revolution’ and a battle deep inside India didn’t favour them. Massive mobilization of Chinese troops in winter needed to be carried out to penetrate deep inside East Pakistan and guarantee provide traces had been maintained. For China, diverting Indian troops to the northeast meant going for a high-altitude winter battle.  

Then US President Richard Nixon ordered the deployment of its Seventh Fleet comprising its nuclear-powered plane provider – USS Enterprise. President Nixon believed the presence of a US fleet would tackle INS Vikrant, weaken India’s naval blockade and pressure the navy to step again on the defensive due to the US’ “Gunboat Diplomacy”. The Indo-Soviet treaty got here to the rescue. USSR deployed frigates, cruisers, tankers and destroyers armed with atomic missiles. 

This deployment introduced the 2 superpowers in opposition to one another and hostilities had been defused, leaving Pakistan within the east alone.

Surrender

Rapid Indian advance coupled with joint air and naval operations broke the provision of any assist to East Pakistan. In the Western theatre, Pakistani troops managed to withstand strongly, and the Pakistan Air Force offered air assist to its troops, however within the east, the autumn of Dhaka was inevitable.

On December 13, Gen Niazi despatched a misery sign to Rawalpindi in West Pakistan however was informed to proceed combating and maintain as a lot territory as doable. A day later, the Indian Air Force bombed the Governor House in Dhaka when a gathering was ongoing within the constructing. The air strike had such a demoralizing impact that the East Pakistan authorities resigned on the spot. This was the final straw on the camel’s again and Niazi selected peace over extra combating.