The Pakistani Instrument of Surrender ( bn, পাকিস্তানের আত্মসমর্পণের দলিল, translit=Pākistānēr Atmasamarpaṇēr Dalil) was a written agreement between India, Pakistan, and the Provisional Government of Bangladesh that enabled the capitulation of 93,000 West Pakistani troops of the Evolution of Pakistan Eastern Command plan, Armed Forces Eastern Command on 16 December 1971, thereby ending the Bangladesh Liberation War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971 with the formal establishment of the Bangladesh, People's Republic of Bangladesh in erstwhile East Pakistan. It was the largest surrender in terms of number of personnel since the end of World War II. The event, known as Victory Day (Bangladesh), Victory Day, is celebrated as a Public holidays in Bangladesh#National holidays, national holiday in Bangladesh; it is also celebrated by the Indian Armed Forces.

Surrender ceremony

The surrender ceremony took place at the Suhrawardy Udyan, Ramna Race Course in Dhaka, Dacca, East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), on 16 December 1971: A. A. K. Niazi of the Pakistan Army formally surrendered to Jagjit Singh Aurora, an Indian Army officer and joint commander of the Mukti Bahini, Bangladesh Forces. A. K. Khandker, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Bangladesh Forces, represented the Provisional Government of Bangladesh at the ceremony. Also present from the Pakistani Eastern Command were Mohammad Shariff of the Pakistan Navy and Patrick Desmond Callaghan of the Pakistan Air Force, both of whom signed the agreement alongside Niazi. Sagat Singh, Commander of the IV Corps (India), Indian IV Corps; Hari Chand Dewan, Commander of the Eastern Air Command (India), Indian Eastern Air Command; and J. F. R. Jacob, Chief of Staff of the Eastern Command (India), Indian Eastern Command; all acted as witnesses on behalf of India. Niazi accepted the surrender while the crowd on the race course promptly erupted in celebrations.

Text of the Instrument

The document is now public property under the governments of India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, and can be seen on display at the National Museum, New Delhi, National Museum in the Indian capital of New Delhi. The text of the Instrument of Surrender is as follows:

Sources

"Instrument of Surrender of Pakistani forces in Dacca", Hosted by Ministry of External Affairs, India

"The Separation of East Pakistan"

References

{{1971 Indo-Pakistan War Bangladesh Liberation War Bangladeshi documents Indian documents Government documents of Pakistan Peace treaties of Bangladesh Peace treaties of Pakistan India–Pakistan military relations 1971 in Bangladesh 1971 in India 1971 in Pakistan Peace treaties of India Treaties concluded in 1971 Treaties entered into force in 1971 Surrenders India–Pakistan treaties December 1971 events in Asia