93,000 Pakistani troops surrender | Rare footage of 1971 india pak war | Pak Troops Surrender

Summary

The Indian army's Chief of Staff, General Sam Manekshaw, discusses the repatriation of 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war from Bangladesh to India, with a current rate of 3,000 per day. By January 15th, all are expected to be in Indian POW camps. The Indian army remains in Bangladesh to assist with refugee returns, maintain law and order, and protect minorities. The Bangladesh government is setting up a war crimes tribunal, and the Indian army's involvement in the region is expected to be long-term, with the potential to shape the new country's development.

Takeaways

• 🏹 The Indian army is responsible for transporting 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war to India, with 25,000 already in the process.
• 🕊 General Sam Manekshaw, the Indian Army's chief of staff, is overseeing the repatriation, aiming to increase the daily transfer rate to 10,000 prisoners by next month.
• 📅 By January 15th, all Pakistani prisoners are expected to be in Indian POW camps, with the Indian forces reducing their presence in Bangladesh by 25,000 troops.
• 🛡 Indian soldiers are also tasked with ensuring the safety of 10 million Bengali refugees returning to Bangladesh and maintaining law and order in the region.
• 👥 The Indian army is safeguarding the lives of Bengalis who were part of the Civil Administration for Pakistan, some of whom may face a war crimes tribunal.
• 🤝 DP'd, Mrs. Gandhi's special envoy to Bangladesh, indicates a careful approach to handling the repatriation without infringing on Bangladesh's sovereignty.
• 🚂 The script describes a train transporting POWs under the supervision of Brigadier HS Claire, highlighting the precautions taken to avoid friction with the local population.
• 👮‍♂️ Indian soldiers guard the train to prevent any potential hostile demonstrations by Bengalis, showing the tension between the local population and the departing POWs.
• 🎒 The Pakistani naval commander organizes the embarkation, with the prisoners carrying only their military kit, food, and cooking equipment.
• 🚢 The prisoners face a long journey ahead, including a boat trip through the river system, a train ride across the border, and eventual arrival at POW camps in Bihar.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Families and civilian employees of the Pakistan Army are also being moved, but there's no indication yet of the repatriation of other West Pakistani civilians.
• 🎉 For the Bengalis cheering the departure of the POWs, it's a moment of victory and relief, despite the bitterness of defeat for the prisoners who face a tedious journey and prison camp routine.

Q & A

How many Pakistani prisoners of war were there in Bangladesh according to the script?

There were 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war in Bangladesh.

What was the immediate task for the Indian army before they could leave Bangladesh?

The Indian army had to transport the 93,000 Pakistani prisoners of war to India.

How many of the prisoners of war were in Dhaka and what were they guarded against?

25,000 of the prisoners of war were in Dhaka, guarded against possible Bengali vengeance.

Who was the Indian Army's chief of staff mentioned in the script, and what was his name?

The Indian Army's chief of staff mentioned in the script was General Sam Manekshaw.

What was General Sam Manekshaw's plan regarding the transportation of prisoners of war?

General Sam Manekshaw planned to transport 3,000 prisoners of war a day out of the country, hoping to increase the daily average to 10,000 by the beginning of the next month.

By when did General Sam Manekshaw hope to have all prisoners of war in Indian POW camps?

General Sam Manekshaw hoped to have all prisoners of war in Indian POW camps by the 15th of January.

What was the role of the Indian armed forces in Bangladesh apart from handling the prisoners of war?

The Indian armed forces were also responsible for ensuring the safe return of 10 million Bengali refugees to Bangladesh, maintaining law and order, protecting minority groups from retribution, and safeguarding the lives of those who ran the Civil Administration for Pakistan.

What was the Bangladesh government's plan for individuals who ran the Civil Administration for Pakistan?

The Bangladesh government was setting up a war crimes tribunal to try individuals like Dr. Malik and his colleagues.

What was the stance of Mr. DP'd Are, Mrs. Gandhi's special envoy to Bangladesh, regarding the handover of individuals to the war crimes tribunal?

Mr. DP'd Are stated that they did not want to do anything against international norms or infringe on the sovereign rights of the Bangladeshi government, indicating that the position was being legally examined.

What was the process for the Pakistani prisoners of war to be transported out of Bangladesh?

The process involved a train journey to the river port of Narayanganj, a boat trip through the river system to Korangi, followed by a long train journey across the border into West Bengal, and finally to the POW camps on the Ranchi plateau in Bihar.

What was the attitude of the local Bengali population towards the departing Pakistani prisoners of war?

The local Bengali population was not pleased to see their enemies leave apparently scot-free, as evidenced by the small group cheering on the roof of a harbor building.