The 1971 Indo-Pak War

Indo-Pakistani relations deteriorated when civil war erupted in Pakistan, pitting the West Pakistan army against East Pakistanis demanding greater autonomy. On the 3rd of December 1971, the Pakistani Air Force (PAF) struck a number of Indian airfields in northern India. By midnight, India was officially at war with Pakistan. India attacked both East and West Pakistan. The Indian Army had overrun erstwhile East Pakistan (Bangladesh) and taken 93,000 POWs. Creating history and a new nation - Bangladesh.

Here is the surrender by the Pakis:

The PAKISTAN Eastern Command agree to surrender all PAKISTAN Armed Forces in BANGLADESH to Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA, General Officer Commanding in Chief of the Indian and Bangladesh forces in the Eastern Theatre. This surrender includes all PAKISTAN land, air and naval forces as also all para-military forces and civil armed forces. These forces will lay down their arms and surrender at the places where they are currently located to the nearest regular troops under the command of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA.

       The PAKISTAN Eastern Command shall come under the orders of Lieutenant-

General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA as soon as the instrument has been signed. Disobedience of orders will be regarded as a breach of the surrender terms and will be dealt with the accepted laws and usage's of war. The decision of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA will be final, should any doubt arise as to the meaning [sic] of interpretation of the surrender terms.

       Lieutenant JAGJIT SINGH AURORA gives a solemn assurance that personnel

who surrender shall be treated with dignity and respect that soldiers are entitled to in accordance with provisions of the GENEVA Convention and guarantees the safety and well-being of all PAKISTAN military and para- military forces who surrender. Protection woll [sic] be provided to foreign [sic] nationals, ethnic minorities and personnel of WEST PAKISTANI origin by the forces under the command of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA.

            <signed >                           <signed>

       (JAGJIT SINGH AURORA)               (AMIR ABDULLAH KHAN NIAZI)
         Lieutenant-General                     Lieutenant-General
  General Officer Commanding in Chief   Martial Law Administrator Zone B and
  India and Bangladesh Forces in the    Commander Eastern Command
            Eastern Theatre                     (Pakistan)
            16 December 1971                 16 December 1971

      16 December 1971                          16 December 1971