Vijay Diwas 2020: December 16 is a very historic date for all of the subcontinent including India and its neighbors Bangladesh and Pakistan. In 1971 on this date, India won the decisive war against Pakistan that resulted in the formation of now Bangladesh (then East Bengal). That’s why this day is widely recognized as Vijay Diwas or simply Victory Day in India.
The war started on December 3, 1971, at a time when the struggle for independence was ongoing in East Pakistan. It ended thirteen days later on December 16 with the unconditional surrender of the Pakistan Army. It was also the largest military surrender after World War 2. This war changed the demography and political context of the subcontinent in such a way that the consequences of it can be seen even today.
This conflict was the result of the Bangladesh Liberation War when then East Pakistan was fighting for its freedom from West Pakistan. In 1971 Pakistan Army began to commit genocide and other cruel practices against the East Pakistan population to suppress the freedom movement. Then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi took note of these atrocities and ordered Army Chief General Sam Manekshaw to launch a full-fledge war against the neighbors.
The immediate reason for this war was when Pakistan launched airstrikes on 11 Indian airbases. Indo-Pak 1971 war was also the first time in which India’s all three forces fought in unison. This was also one of the shortest wars in history.
Vijay Diwas: 13 Days of War
Dec 3 Bangladesh Air Force destroys Pakistani oil depots; Pakistan attacks India; India formally joins the war
Dec 4 Battle of Longewala
Dec 6 Indira Gandhi announces in Parliament that India had accorded recognition to the Bangladesh Government.
Dec 7 Jessore, Sylhet liberated
Dec 8 Indian naval attack on Karachi
Dec 11 Hilli, Mymenshingh, Kushtia, and Noakhali liberated. USA deploys USS Enterprise in the Bay of Bengal
Dec 13 USSR sends in warships to counter Enterprise
Dec 16 Mitro Bahini takes Dhaka, East Pakistan Army surrenders unconditionally, Bangladesh is liberated
Dec 22 Provisional government arrives in Dhaka from exile
The war ended after the chief of the Pakistani forces, General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, along with 93,000 troops, surrendered to the joint forces of the Indian Army and Bangladesh’s Mukti Bahini.
On August 2, 1972, India and Pakistan signed the Shimla Agreement under which the former agreed to release all the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war.
