A lasting cause of humiliation for Pakistan - Gen. Ameer Abdullah Khan Niazi signing the instrument of surrender on 16 Dec 1971

The war had become inevitable after Pakistan launched a genocidal campaign against Bengalis in East Pakistan and millions of refugees fled into India. PM Indira Gandhi asked the Chief of Army Staff General Sam Manekshaw to get ready for war while she herself launched a diplomatic charm offensive in world capitals. Mukti Bahni fighters from East Pakistan were trained by India and fought against the brutal Pakistani army. Realising that Pakistan was heading for disaster, the U.S. Seventh Fleet dispatched its Task Force 74 to the Bay of Bengal

DHAKA: It was the Indian military’s finest hour as Pakistan’s Lt Gen AK Niazi signed the Instrument of Surrender in front of a host of Indian military leaders including the legendary Lt Gen JS Aurora in the newly liberated capital of Dhaka.

Since that fateful day 49 years ago, 16 December is celebrated as Vijay Diwas by India.

Tactically, it was a very well-thought-out operation: The Mukti Bahni fighters from East Pakistan were trained by India and fought against the brutal occupying Pakistani army.

The war had become necessary after Pakistan’s army launched a genocidal campaign against Bengalis in the East, and millions of refugees poured into India. 

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi asked the Chief of Army Staff General Sam Manekshaw to get ready for war while she herself launched a diplomatic charm offensive to present to the key world powers India’s side of the story, months before Pakistan triggered the actual war in December 1971. 
Here are some of the key moments from the war that brought India closer to victory:

Battle of Longewala

This battle on the night of December 4-5 took place at Longewala post that was being manned by 100-120 men from Punjab regiment’s ‘Alfa Company’. These bravehearts were led by Major Kuldip Singh Chandpuri. Though outnumbered by Pakistani infantry and soldiers, the Indian troops defended this crucial outpost till the wee hours, when help arrived in the form of the Marut and Hunter jets of the Indian Air Force.

Battle of Hilli

The Battle of Hilli was among the fiercest battles of the war. Strangely, it started a couple of weeks before the formal declaration of war. Hilli was defended very thoroughly by Pakistani soldiers. The fighting was brutal. The Indians were led by the legendary Lt. Col. Shamsher Singh. Though India won Hilli, it came at a huge price. Nearly 70 Indian soldiers were martyred. 

Operation Trident

The Indian Navy hit the Karachi port on the night of December 4-5, annihilating Pakistani destroyer PNS Khyber along with the minesweeper PNS Muhafiz. Another ship, the PNS Shah Jahan, was damaged. Remarkably, the Indian Navy did not suffer any losses in this clinical operation, codenamed Trident. No wonder, December 4 is marked as Navy Day in India. 

India Shrugs off U.S. Seventh Fleet 

The 1971 India-Pak conflict happened when the Cold War was at its peak, and Pakistan was firmly in the US camp. Realising that Pakistan was heading for disaster, the U.S. Seventh Fleet dispatched its Task Force 74 to the Bay of Bengal. Though military historians maintain that the US had no intention of actually engaging militarily with India, it was meant to intimidate the Indian forces. It backfired because it made Indian soldiers even more determined to free areas of East Pakistan under the control of West Pakistan quickly. The fact that a Soviet naval task force appeared on the horizon brought all the complexities and drama of the Cold War to the subcontinent. India’s shrugging off America’s show of strength has become one of the defining moments of the 1971 war.

Battle of Basantar 

The Battle of Basantar stands out for the courage shown by 2nd Lt. Arun Khetarpal, who managed to nearly singlehandedly destroy multiple Pakistani tanks, leading India to a famous military victory. The battle was arguably the deadliest tank battle in the history of the subcontinent. India prevailed though Pakistan had more tanks on the battlefield. For his supreme courage, Khetarpal was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra.