The Pakistan Army

Pakistan Army

The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...

 launched Operation Searchlight

Operation Searchlight

Operation Searchlight was a planned military operation carried out by the Pakistan Army to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in the erstwhile East Pakistan in March 1971. Ordered by the central government in West Pakistan, this was seen as the sequel to "Operation Blitz" which had been...

 on March 25th, 1971, to pacify which led to a prolonged conflict with the Bengali Mukti Bahini

Mukti Bahini

Mukti Bahini , also termed as the "Freedom Fighters" or FFs, collectively refers to the armed organizations who fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was dynamically formed by Bengali regulars and civilians after the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence on...

. Although conventional in nature during March–May 1971, it soon turned into an insurgency from June of that year. Indian army had not directly supported the Bengali resistance but had launched Operation Jackpot

Operation Jackpot

For the 1983–1986 South Carolina drug investigation see Operation Jackpot Operation Jackpot was the codename assigned to several different operations during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971. The original "Operation Jackpot" was the logistical and training operation set up under the Indian Army...

 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

Mukti Bahini

Mukti Bahini , also termed as the "Freedom Fighters" or FFs, collectively refers to the armed organizations who fought against the Pakistan Army during the Bangladesh Liberation War. It was dynamically formed by Bengali regulars and civilians after the proclamation of Bangladesh's independence on...

Pakistan army started to work on a plan of defense against a possible Indian attack from July 1971. At that time, 3 infantry divisions held responsibility for the province: the 9th (CO: Maj. Gen. Shaukat Riza, HQ Jessore) looking after the area south of the Padma River

Padma River

The Padma is a major trans-boundary river in Bangladesh. It is the main distributary of the Ganges , which originates in the Himalayas. The Padma enters Bangladesh from India near Chapai Nababganj...

, the 16th (Maj. Gen. Nazar Hussain Shah, HQ Bogra) responsible for the area north of Padma and west of Jamuna rivers and the 14th (CO: Maj. Gen. Rahim Khan, HQ: Dhaka) looking after the rest of the province. The original plan was based on a series of exercises, known as Titumeer, which were held during 1970–1971. It was revised several times and approved in October 1971. General Niazi had created 4 ad hoc infantry brigade and 2 ad hoc infantry divisions before the final order of battle was devised. The final order of battle prior to December 3, 1971 was:

Eastern Command Headquarters Dhaka

GOC: Lt. General A. A. K. Niazi

A. A. K. Niazi

Lieutenant-General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi HJ, MC,; c. 1915 - 2 February 2004), was a former three-star general in the Pakistan Army who was the last unified commander of Pakistan Armed Forces's Eastern Military High Command in East-Pakistan...

COS: Brigadier Baqir Siddiqi

Commander Artillery: Brig. S. S. A. Kashim

Commander Armor: Col. Bakhtier

Commander Engineers: Brig. Iqbal Sharif

Commander Signals: Brig. Areef Reza

Commander Medical Service: Brig. Fahim Ahmed Khan

Advisor: Maj. Gen. Rao Farman Ali

Rao Farman Ali

Major General Rao Farman Ali Khan was Pakistan Army general during the Indo-Pakistan War of 1971. He took commission in an artillery regiment in 1941 and later commanded the 26 Field Regiment...

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 atea

Brig. Mansoor (East): Munshiganj & Narayanganj

Brig. Bashir: Dhaka city proper

• EPCAF HQ and Sector units:
  • Police and Razakars

Pakistan Air Force

Pakistan Air Force

The Pakistan Air Force is the leading air arm of the Pakistan Armed Forces and is primarily tasked with the aerial defence of Pakistan with a secondary role of providing air support to the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy. The PAF also has a tertiary role of providing strategic air transport...

CO: Air Commodore Enamul Huq
**No. 14 Squadron ‘’Tail-choppers’’: 20 F-86 Sabers
**Training unit: 3 T-33

T-33 Shooting Star

The Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star is an American-built jet trainer aircraft. It was produced by Lockheed and made its first flight in 1948, piloted by Tony LeVier. The T-33 was developed from the Lockheed P-80/F-80 starting as TP-80C/TF-80C in development, then designated T-33A. It was used by the...

Pakistan Navy

Pakistan Navy

The Pakistan Navy is the naval warfare/service branch of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Pakistan's Navy is responsible for Pakistan's coastline along the Arabian Sea and the defense of important civilian harbors and military bases...

CO: Rear Admiral Mohammad Sharif

• 4 Gunboats: PNS Rajshahi, Comilla, Sylhet and Jessore
  • 1 Patrol Boat: PNS Balaghat
  • 17 armed boats
  • Naval Marines – Captain Zamir

36 Ad hoc Infantry Division

CO: Maj. Gen. M. Jamshed Khan 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

OC: Major General Abdul Majid Qazi, HQ Brahmanbaria

Area of Operation: Sylhet and Northern Comilla districts

• • 31st Field Artillery – Ashuganj – Brahmanbaria - Shamshernagar
  • 88 Independent Mortar Battery – Sylhet
    Sylhet
    Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...
    
    
  • 171 Independent Mortar Battery – Comilla
    Comilla
    Comilla is a city in south-eastern Bangladesh, located along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. It is the administrative center of the Comilla District, part of the Chittagong Division. The Eastern Wing of Bangladesh Highway Police is located in Comilla....
    
    

Sylhet

Sylhet

Sylhet , is a major city in north-eastern Bangladesh. It is the main city of Sylhet Division and Sylhet District, and was granted metropolitan city status in March 2009. Sylhet is located on the banks of the Surma Valley and is surrounded by the Jaintia, Khasi and Tripura hills...

• 202 Adhoc Brigade: Brig. Salimullah
  • 31 Punjab – Sylhet
  • 91 Mujahid Battalion – Sunamganj
  • 12 Azad Kashmir – Sylhet

Also: Wings of Tochi, Thal and Khyber scouts

Maulavibazar

• 313 infantry Brigade: Brig. Iftikar Rana
  • 22 Baluch – Kalaura
  • 30 Frontier Force – Shahshernagar
  • 91 Mujahid (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

OC: Maj. Gen. Rahim Khan – Chandpur

Area of Operation: Comilla, Feni and Northern Chittagong

• • 53rd Field Artillery – Comilla

Comilla

Comilla

Comilla is a city in south-eastern Bangladesh, located along the Dhaka-Chittagong Highway. It is the administrative center of the Comilla District, part of the Chittagong Division. The Eastern Wing of Bangladesh Highway Police is located in Comilla....

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

Feni

Feni District

Feni is a small southern district of Bangladesh, bordering Tripura in India, Chittagong district, the Bay of Bengal, Noakhali district and Comilla district...

• 53rde Infantry Brigade: Brig. Aslam Niazi
  • 15th Baluch – Belonia
  • 39th Baluch – Laksham
  • 23rd Punjab – Mean Bazar
  • 21 Azad Kashmir - Laksham

Ramgarh

• 91st Ad hoc Brigade: Brig. Mian Taskeenuddin HQ Chittagong
  • 24th Frontier Force – Ramgarh
  • Chakma
    Chakma people
    The Chakmas , also known as the Changhma , are a community that inhabits the Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh and the North-East India. The Chakmas are the largest ethnic group in the Chittagong Hill Tracts, making up more than half the tribal population. Chakmas are divided into 46 clans or...
    
     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

CO: Maj. Gen. Nazar Hussain Shah HQ: Bogra

Bogra

Bogra is a town, and one of the oldest towns in northern Bangladesh. It is a centre of commerce and trade within the Bogra District and located under the Rajshahi Division. Bogra is sometimes described as the nerve centre of Northern Bangladesh. Amongst many notable activities, it has been hosting...

, then Natore

Area of Operation: Rajshahi, Bogra, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Pabna
Districts
**29th Cavalry less elements –Rangpur

• • 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
  • 48th Punjab – Thakurgaon
  • 8 Punjab – Rangpur
    Rangpur District
    The district of Rangpur have 4924 mosques, 480 temples, 43 churches and six tombs.In an anthropologic view most people of Rangpur are having Rajbagshi blood in their veins...
    
    
  • 34th Punjab – Nilphamari
  • 86th Mujahid – Gaibandha

Bogra

Bogra

Bogra is a town, and one of the oldest towns in northern Bangladesh. It is a centre of commerce and trade within the Bogra District and located under the Rajshahi Division. Bogra is sometimes described as the nerve centre of Northern Bangladesh. Amongst many notable activities, it has been hosting...

• 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

9th Infantry Division

CO: Maj. Gen HM. H. Ansari HQ Jessore

Area of Operation: Khulna

Khulna

Khulna is the third largest city in Bangladesh. It is located on the banks of the Rupsha and Bhairab rivers in Khulna District. It is the divisional headquarters of Khulna Division and a major industrial and commercial center. It has a seaport named Mongla on its outskirts, 38 km from Khulna...

, Jessore, Kushtia, Faridpur

Faridpur District

Faridpur is a district in central Bangladesh. It is a part of the Dhaka Division. Faridpur District has a population of over 1.7 million people and is situated on the banks of the Padma river . It is bordered by Madaripur, Narail, Rajbari, Magura, Shariatpur, Gopalgonj, Dhaka and Manikganj...

, Barisal and Patuakhali districts

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

Jhenida

• 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