On 25 March 1971, the

Pakistani military The Pakistan Armed Forces (; ) are the military forces of Pakistan. It is the world's sixth-largest military measured by active military personnel and consist of three formally uniformed services—the Army, Navy, and the Air Force, which are ...

, supported by paramilitary units, launched the

military operation A military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state, or a non-state actor, in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state or actor's favor. Operations may ...

to pacify the insurgent-held areas of

East Pakistan East Pakistan was a Pakistani province established in 1955 by the One Unit Scheme, One Unit Policy, renaming the province as such from East Bengal, which, in modern times, is split between India and Bangladesh. Its land borders were with India ...

, which led to a prolonged conflict with the Bengali

Mukti Bahini The Mukti Bahini ( bn, মুক্তিবাহিনী, translates as 'freedom fighters', or liberation army), also known as the Bangladesh Forces, was the guerrilla resistance movement consisting of the Bangladeshi military, paramilitary ...

. Although conventional in nature during March–May 1971, it soon turned into a guerrilla insurgency from June of that year.

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

had not directly supported the Bengali resistance but had launched

Operation Jackpot The Operation Jackpot was a codename for three operations undertaken by Bengali ''Mukti Bahini'' in former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) against the Federation of Pakistan during the climax of the Bangladesh Liberation War.''Surrender at Da ...

to support the insurgency from May 1971. The initial deployments of the Pakistan armed forces were to combat and contain the activities of the Mukti Bahini. This was changed over time and by December 1971, 3 Infantry and 2 ad hoc divisions were deployed to face the ''Mitro Bahini''.

Background: Initial deployments against Mukti Bahini

From the March 1971, the

's Eastern Command under its commander

Lieutenant-General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

A.A.K. Niazi, started

military deployment Military deployment is the movement of armed forces and their Military logistics, logistical support infrastructure around the world. Notable deployments and deployment forces include: * Egyptian Rapid deployment forces * Pakistan Armed Forces depl ...

to provide the defence of borders linked with India against a possible penetration by the

. During this time, the 9th Infantry Division, headquartered in

Jessore Jessore ( bn, যশোর, jôshor, ), officially Jashore, is a city of Jessore District situated in Khulna Division. It is situated in the south-western part of Bangladesh. It is the administrative centre (headquarter) of the eponymous district ...

under its GOC Major-General Shaukat Riaz, had held the area of responsibility for looking after the looking area south of the

Padma River The Padma ( bn, পদ্মা ''Pôdma'') is a major river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges, flowing generally southeast for to its confluence with the Meghna River near the Bay of Bengal. The city of Rajshahi is sit ...

for the defence of borders linked with India while the 16th Infantry Division, that headquartered in

Bogra Bogra ( bn, বগুড়া), officially known as Bogura, is a major city located in Bogra District, Rajshahi Division, Bangladesh. The city is a major commercial hub in Northern Bangladesh. It is the second largest city in Rajshahi Divi ...

under its GOC Major-General Nazar Hussain Shah, had been responsible for the area north of Padma and west of Jamuna rivers. The 14th Infantry Division under its GOC Major-General Rahim Khan, was headquartered in

Dhaka Dhaka ( or ; bn, ঢাকা, Ḍhākā, ), formerly known as Dacca, is the capital and largest city of Bangladesh, as well as the world's largest Bengali-speaking city. It is the eighth largest and sixth most densely populated city ...

that had the entire area of responsibility for the rest of the province. The original plan was based on a series of exercises, known as ''Titumeer'', which were held during 1970–1971, was revised several times and approved in October 1971. General Niazi had created 4 ad hoc infantry brigades and 2 ad hoc infantry divisions before the final order of battle was devised. The final order of battle prior to 3 December 1971, was: Eastern Command Headquarters, Dhaka
Commander, Eastern Command: Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi
GOC, 14th Infantry Division (till March '71):

Maj. Gen. Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Khadim Hussain Raja

Military Advisor Military advisors, or combat advisors, advise on military matters. Some are soldiers sent to foreign countries to aid such countries with their military training, organization, and other various military tasks. The Foreign powers or organizations ...

: Maj. Gen.

Rao Farman Ali Major General Rao Farman Ali ( ur, ; January 1, 1922 – 20 January 2004) was a Major General in Pakistan Army, and political figure who is widely considered a key architect of the 1971 Bangladesh genocide the Bangladesh Liberation War. ...

COS:

Brig. Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thou ...

Baqir Siddiqi
CO

Artillery Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during siege ...

: Brig. S.S.A. Kashim
CO

Armoured Armour (British English) or armor (American English; see spelling differences) is a covering used to protect an object, individual, or vehicle from physical injury or damage, especially direct contact weapons or projectiles during combat, or f ...

: Col. Bakhtier
CO

Engineers Engineers, as practitioners of engineering, are professionals who invent, design, analyze, build and test machines, complex systems, structures, gadgets and materials to fulfill functional objectives and requirements while considering the ...

: Brig. Iqbal Sharif
CO

Signals In signal processing, a signal is a function that conveys information about a phenomenon. Any quantity that can vary over space or time can be used as a signal to share messages between observers. The ''IEEE Transactions on Signal Processing'' ...

: Brig. Areef Reza
CO

Medical Medicine is the science and practice of caring for a patient, managing the diagnosis, prognosis, prevention, treatment, palliation of their injury or disease, and promoting their health. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practic ...

: Brig. Fahim Ahmed Khan
CO SSG Army: Lt. Col.

Tariq Mehmood Brigadier Tariq Mehmood (8 Oct 1938 – 29 May 1989) was a Pakistani military officer of Pakistan Army. He was serving as the Commander of Pakistan Army's Special Service Group (SSG), when he died in an accident in 1989 due to malfunctioning ...

Dir. ISPR:

Major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

Siddique Salik Brigadier Siddique Salik ( ur, ) born 6 September 1935, died 17 August 1988), , was an officer in the Pakistan Army, combat artist, humorist, novelist, and a memoirist who served as 8th Director-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations ...

Dir.

Military Intelligence Military intelligence is a military discipline that uses information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to assist commanders in their decisions. This aim is achieved by providing an assessment of data from a ...

: Major K.M. Arif *Units under HQ Control:
**6th Engineer Regiment
**10th Engineer Regiment – detached to various locations
**11th Engineer Regiment – Lt. Col Sarwar
** 43rd Light Ack Ack – Lt. Col. Mohammad Afzal
** 19th Signal Regiment
**3rd Commando Battalion (less elements)
**Army Aviation Squadron #4 – Lt. Col. Liakat Bokhari

Dhaka Defense Scheme (adhoc)

Brig. Kashim (North): Dhaka Cantonment & Tongi area
Brig. Mian Mansoor (East): Munshiganj & Narayanganj
Brig. T.H. Malik: Hilli &

Brig. Bashir: Dhaka city proper
Brig. William Harrison:

Comilla Comilla (; bn, কুমিল্লা, Kumillā, ), officially spelled Cumilla, is the fifth largest city of Bangladesh and second largest in Chittagong division. It is the administrative centre of the Comilla District. The name Comilla was ...

Chittagong Chittagong ( /ˈtʃɪt əˌɡɒŋ/ ''chit-uh-gong''; ctg, চিটাং; bn, চিটাগং), officially Chattogram ( bn, চট্টগ্রাম), is the second-largest city in Bangladesh after Dhaka and third largest city in B ...

*EPCAF HQ and Sector units: **Police and Razakars

36 Ad hoc Infantry Division

GOC: Major General Muhammad Jamshed HQ Dhaka
Area of Operation: Dhaka, Tangail and Mymensingh districts *93 Infantry Brigade: Brig Abdul Qadir Khan HQ Mymensingh **83 Independent. Mortar battery **31 Baluch – Jamalpur **33 Punjab – Mymensingh **71 Wing WPR – Kishorganj **70 Wing WPR – Bijaipur

14 Infantry Division

GOC: Major General Abdul Majid Qazi, HQ

Brahmanbaria Brahmanbaria ( bn, ব্রাহ্মণবাড়িয়া, Brāhmaṇabāṛiẏā) is a city of Bangladesh and the capital of Brahmanbaria Sadar Upazila as well as Brahmanbaria District. It is the second largest city after Cumilla ...

Area of Operation: Sylhet and Northern Comilla districts **31st Field Artillery – Ashuganj –

– Shamshernagar **88 Independent Mortar Battery –

Sylhet Sylhet ( bn, সিলেট) is a metropolitan city in northeastern Bangladesh. It is the administrative seat of the Sylhet Division. Located on the north bank of the Surma River at the eastern tip of Bengal, Sylhet has a subtropical climate an ...

**171 Independent Mortar Battery –

Sylhet

*202 Adhoc Brigade: Brig. Salimullah **31

Punjab Punjab (; Punjabi: پنجاب ; ਪੰਜਾਬ ; ; also romanised as ''Panjāb'' or ''Panj-Āb'') is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia, specifically in the northern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising ...

–

**91

Mujahid Force The Mujahid Force ( ur, ) is a paramilitary regiment and a component of the National Guard of Pakistan, normally under the command of the Pakistan Army. History The force was established in 1965, and was merged into the National Guard whe ...

Battalion –

Sunamganj Sunamganj ( bn, সুনামগঞ্জ) is a town in the Sylhet Division of northeastern Bangladesh. It is the administrative headquarters and largest town of Sunamganj District. It is located on the banks of the Surma River, approximately ...

**12

Azad Kashmir Azad Jammu and Kashmir (; ), abbreviated as AJK and colloquially referred to as simply Azad Kashmir, is a region administered by Pakistan as a nominally self-governing entitySee: * * * and constituting the western portion of the larger Ka ...

–

Also: Wings of Tochi, Thal and Khyber scouts

Moulvibazar

*313 infantry Brigade: Brig. Iftikar Rana **22 Baloch –

Kulaura Kulaura ( bn, কুলাউড়া) is the biggest upazila (subdistrict) of the Moulvibazar District in north-eastern Bangladesh. The total area of this upazila is 545 km2. Hakaluki Haor, the largest marsh wetland in Sylhet and one of the ...

(

Battle of Gazipur The Battle of Gazipur ( bn, গাজীপুরের যুদ্ধ) was a military engagement on 4 and 5 December 1971, during the Bangladesh liberation war. It took place at the Gazipur Tea Estate near Kulaura, in the Sylhet District of ...

) **30 Frontier Force – Shamshernagar (in Kamalganj) **91

(minus elements) & Tochi Scouts – Sherpur

Brahmanbaria

*27th Infantry Brigade: Brig. Saadullah **33rd Baluch – Kasba **12th Frontier Force – Akhaura **2 Troops of M-24 Chaffee – Akhaura

39 Ad hoc Division

GOC: Maj. Gen. Rahim Khan (replaced by Brig. Mian Mansoor) – Chandpur
Area of Operation: Comilla, Feni and Northern Chittagong **53rd Field Artillery – Comilla

Comilla

*117th Infantry Brigade: Brig. Sheikh M.H. Atif **30 Punjab – Saldanadi **25th Frontier Force – Mainamati *12th Azad Kashmir – Comilla

Feni

*53rde Infantry Brigade: Brig. Aslam Niazi **15th Baluch – Belonia **39th Baluch –

Laksham Laksam ( bn, লাকসাম) is an upazila of Comilla District in the Division of Chittagong, Bangladesh. Laksam is widely known as the birthplace of Nawab Faizunnesa Chowdhurani. History Laksam was made into an upazila in 1983. On 6 April ...

**23rd Punjab – Mean Bazar **21 Azad Kashmir – Laksham

Ramgarh

*91st Ad hoc Brigade: Brig. Mian Taskeenuddin HQ Chittagong **24th Frontier Force – Ramgarh ** Chakma and Mizo troops **EPCAF 11th and 14th Wings

Chittagong

*97th Independent Brigade: Brig. Ata Mohd. Khan Malik **48th Baluch – Chittagong **2 SSg Commando – Rangamati **60th Wing Rangers – Ramgarh **61st Wing Rangers – Cox's Bazar ** Naval Contingent ***46th Light Ack Ack Battery

16th Infantry Division

GOC: Maj. Gen. Nazar Hussain Shah HQ:

, then

Natore Natore district is a district of Rajshahi Division located in northern Bangladesh. It borders the metropolitan city of Rajshahi, and used to be part of Rajshahi district. History Natore was the District Headquarters of Rajshahi from 1769 to 182 ...

Area of Operation: Rajshahi, Bogra, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Pabna
Districts **29th Cavalry less elements –Rangpur **30 SIGNALS BATTALION - Rangpur **13 Engineer Battalion - Various Locations **48th Field Regiment – Thakurgaon **80th Field Regiment – Hili **117th Mortar Battery – Kurigram

Saidpur

*23rd Infantry Brigade: Brig. Iqbal Shaffi **25th Punjab – Lalmanirhut **26th Frontier Force –

Dinajpur Dinajpur ( bn, দিনাজপুর ) is a city and the District headquarters of Dinajpur district situated in Rangpur Division, Bangladesh. It was founded in 1786. It is located 413 km north-west of Dhaka in Bangladesh. It is bound ...

**48th Punjab – Thakurgaon **8 Punjab – Rangpur **34th Punjab – Nilphamari **86th Mujahid – Gaibandha

Bogra

*205th Infantry Brigade: Brig. Tajammul Hussain Malik HQ: Khetlal **32nd Baluch – Ghoraghat **4th Frontier Force – Hili **3rd Baluch – Jaipurhut

Nator

*34th Infantry Brigade: Brig. Mir Abdul Nayeem **32nd Punjab – Nawabganj **13th Frontier Force – Sapahar

Rajshahi

*Rajshahi Ad hoc Brigade

9th Infantry Division

GOC: Maj. Gen HM. H. Ansari HQ

Area of Operation:

Khulna Khulna ( bn, খুলনা, ) is the third-largest city in Bangladesh, after Dhaka and Chittagong. It is the administrative centre of Khulna District and Khulna Division. Khulna's economy is the third-largest in Bangladesh, contributing $53 b ...

, Jessore, Kushtia, Faridpur,

Barisal Barisal ( or ; bn, বরিশাল, ), officially known as Barishal, is a major city that lies on the banks of the Kirtankhola river in south-central Bangladesh. It is the largest city and the administrative headquarter of both Barisal Dist ...

and Patuakhali districts **3rd Ind. Armored Squadron – Jessore **55th Field Artillery – Satkhira and Chaugacha **49th Field Artillery – Chuadanga **211th Independent Mortar Battery – Chaugacha

Jhenidha

*57th Infantry Brigade: Brig. Manzoor Ahmed **18th Punjab – Darshana **50th Punjab – Jhenida **29th Baluch – Kushtia **Squadron 29th Cavalry – Kushtia

Jessore

*107th Infantry Brigade: Brig. Malik Hayat Khan **22nd Frontier Force – Benapole **38th Frontier Force – Afra **6th Punjab – Jessore **21st Punjab – Satkhira **15th Frontier Force – Jessore **12th Punjab – Jessore

Khulna

*314th Ad Hoc Brigade: Col. Fazle Hamid

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

Air Officer Commanding, Dacca airbase: Air Cdre

Inamul Haque Khan Air Marshal Inamul Haque Khan ( ur, ; 25 May 1927 – 10 August 2017) was a Three-star general, three-star air officer in the Pakistan Air Force who is known for his role as Air Officer Commanding, AOC of the Dacca airbase of the Pakistan A ...

Officer Commanding (Operations Wing): GP.Capt.

Zulfiqar Ali Khan Air Chief Marshal Zulfiqar Ali Khan (Urdu: ذوالفقار علی خان; 10 December 1930 – 8 March 2005) , was a four-star air officer in the Pakistan Air Force and later a diplomat. He is noted as a first four-star air officer who c ...

Officer-in Charge (OIC), No. 14 Squadron "Tail-choppers’’: Wg. Cdr. Mohammed Afzal Chowdhury *Number of aircraft of the squadron: 20 F-86 Sabers *Training unit: 3

T-33 The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star (or T-Bird) is an American subsonic jet trainer. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then d ...

Pakistan Navy ur, ہمارے لیے اللّٰہ کافی ہے اور وہ بہترین کارساز ہے۔ English language, English: Allah is Sufficient for us - and what an excellent (reliable) Trustee (of affairs) is He!(''Quran, Qur'an, Al Imran, 3:173' ...

Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command: R.Adm

Mohammad Shariff Admiral Mohammad Shariff ( ur, ; 1 July 1920 – 27 April 2020), was a Pakistan Navy senior admiral, who served as the 2nd Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and a memoirist who was at the center of all the major decisions made ...

Pakistan Marines The Pakistan Marines (Urdu: ) or simply as Pak Marines, is an Expeditionary warfare, expeditionary and amphibious warfare Pakistan Military, uniform service branch within the Pakistan Navy, consisting of the naval officers and other personnel to p ...

/ CO SSG Navy:

Capt. Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

Ahmad Zamir Vice-Admiral Ahmad Zamir ( ur, ; 30 April 1930 – 9 September 1985), was a three-star rank admiral in the Pakistan Navy. Prior to his death in 1985, he was serving as the managing director of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering from 1983 unt ...

Dir.

MILCOM Milcom or Milkom (Ammonite: 𐤌𐤋𐤊𐤌 *''Mīlkām''; Hebrew: or מַלְכָּם ) was the name of either the national god, or a popular god, of the Ammonites. He is attested in the Hebrew Bible and in archaeological finds from the forme ...

: Cdr. T.K. Khan
Dir. Nav Intel.: Cdr.

Mansurul Haq Admiral Mansurul Haq ( ur, ; 16 October 1937 – 21 February 2018) was a senior officer of the Pakistan Navy who was forcibly retired from his service in 1997 on the allegations leveled against him in the corruption and kickbacks resultin ...

*4 Gunboats: PNS ''Rajshahi'', ''Comilla'', ''Sylhet'' and ''Jessore'' **1 Patrol Boat: PNS ''Balaghat'' **17 armed boats

Notes and references

Notes

References

* * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Pakistan Army Order Of Battle December 1971 Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 Battles of the Bangladesh Liberation War Orders of battle Bangladesh Liberation War

Background: Initial deployments against Mukti Bahini

Dhaka Defense Scheme (adhoc)

36 Ad hoc Infantry Division

14 Infantry Division

Sylhet

Moulvibazar

Brahmanbaria

39 Ad hoc Division

Comilla

Feni

Ramgarh

Chittagong

16th Infantry Division

Saidpur

Bogra

Nator

Rajshahi

9th Infantry Division

Jhenidha

Jessore

Khulna

Pakistan Air Force , "Be it deserts or seas; all lie under our wings" (traditional) , colours = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = ...

Pakistan Navy ur, ہمارے لیے اللّٰہ کافی ہے اور وہ بہترین کارساز ہے۔ English language, English: Allah is Sufficient for us - and what an excellent (reliable) Trustee (of affairs) is He!(''Quran, Qur'an, Al Imran, 3:173' ...

See also

Notes and references

Notes

References