This is the 50th year of India’s victory over Pakistan. The government is organising ‘Swarnim Vijay Varsh’ programme at the National War Memorial in New Delhi where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and defence minister Rajnath Singh will be present. On this day, the nation pays tribute to brave soldiers of India and Bangladesh who laid down their lives in the line of duty.
The 1971 Indo-Pak war lasted for almost 13 days and ended on December 16. Pakistan’s Army General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi along with his 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered before the Indian Army led by General Jagjit Singh Aurora, leading to the creation of Bangladesh. It was one of the shortest wars but saw one of the biggest surrenders.
In the west Indian Army captured around 15,010 square kilometres in Pakistani Kashmir, Pakistani Punjab and Sindh sectors but gifted it back to Pakistan in the Simla Agreement of 1972, as a gesture of goodwill.
Some memorable battles of the war that gave India a decisive win over Pakistan:
WESTERN FRONT
Battle of Basantar
Invading Shakargarh bulge was one of the crucial components of Pak’s strategy and these plans were jeopardized by a
bold attack by 1 Corps, which pushed the Pakistanis back.
Battle of Longewala
It was fought between assaulting Pakistani Brigade Group and a Company of 23 PUNJAB. The battle saw
34 Pak Tanks destroyed or abandoned.
Operation Trident (Celebrated as Navy Day)
Indian Navy launched a devastating attack on the Pakistan Naval Headquarters in Karachi. In the attack, the Indian side, consisting of 3 Vidyut class missile boats (INS Nipat, INS Nirghat, and INS Veer) sank four Pakistani vessels including PNS Khaibar and ravaged the Karachi harbour fuel fields killing over 500 Pakistani Navy personnel. The Indian side suffered no losses.
Operation Trident saw the first use of anti-ship missiles in combat in the region.
EASTERN FRONT
Battle of Atgram Complex
One of the first engagement fought between the 5 Gorkha Rifles and 31 Punjab (Pak Army). The ferocity of assault broke the will of the enemy and the post fell.
Tangail Airdrop
It was an airborne operation mounted on 11 December 1971 by 2 PARA. The objective of the operation was to capture the Poongli Bridge on the Jamuna River. The successful airdrop and the psychological fear led to early fall of Dhaka.
Battle of Hilli
One of the most ferocious battles ever fought. The main objective was to
capture Bogra, thereby cutting off Pakistani forces in the North from the rest of East Pakistan. Indian Army soldiers that despite heavy odds and
fighting a protracted battle for many days emerged victorious at Hilli.