Instrument of Surrender, 1971

In 1971, Pakistan and India fought their third war. The Pakistan army was routed in the East Pakistan, which subsequently attained independence as Bangaldesh. The following is the text of the Instrument of Surrender signed between Lt. Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora (India) and Lt. Gen. Amir Abdullah Khan Nizai (Pakistan) at Dacca on 16 August 1971. Through this document, the Pakistani commander handed over the territory of East Pakistan and his soldiers (some 90,000) to his Indian counterpart. (Note: The large caps of the original text have been retained in this typed version).

Instrument of Surrender

Signed on December 16, 1971

The PAKISTAN Eastern Command agree to surrender all PAKISTAN Armed Forces in BANGLA DESH to Lieutenant-General Jagjit Singh Aurora, General Officer Commanding of the Indian and BANGLA DESHI forces in the Eastern Theatre. This surrender includes all PAKISTAN land, air and naval forces as also all para-military forces and civil armed forces. These forces will lay down their arms and surrender at the places where they are currently located to the nearest regular troops under the command of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA.

The PAKISTAN Eastern Command shall come under the orders of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA as soon as this instrument has been signed. Disobedience of orders will be regarded as a breach of the surrender terms and will be dealt with in accordance with the accepted laws and usage of war. The decision of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA will be final, should any doubt arise as to the meaning or interpretation of the surrender terms.

Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA gives a solemn assurance that personnel who surrender shall be treated with dignity and respect that soldiers are entitled to in accordance with the provisions of the GENEVA Convention and guarantees the safety and well-being of all PAKISTAN military and para-military forces who surrender. Protection will be provided to foreign nationals, ethnic minorities and personnel of WEST PAKISTAN origin by the forces under the command of Lieutenant-General JAGJIT SINGH AURORA.

[Signature]
(JAGJIT SINGH AURORA)
Lieutenant-General
General Officer Commanding in Chief
Indian and BANGLA DESH Forces in the
Eastern Theatre

[Signature]
(AMIR ABDULLAH KHAN NIAZI)
Lieutenant-General
Martial Law Administrator Zone
Commander Eastern Command (PAKISTAN)

Source: Newsline, September 2000 (Karachi)

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