Indo-Pak war 1971: When Army Chief told Pakistan 'you surrender or we wipe you out'

India is celebrating its victory over Pakistan in the Indo-Pak war of 1971 as Vijay Diwas. On this day in 1971, the then head of the Pakistan Army, General Khan Niazi, along with his 93,000 soldiers, surrendered unconditionally to the Indian Army. This historical event itself paved the way for the separation of Pakistan and gave birth to a new country Bangladesh.

During the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, the then Indian Army Chief Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw gave a message to Pakistan that still stands tall today. On December 13, 1971, he had warned Pakistan saying, "you surrender or we wipe you out".

'You surrender or We wipe you out' was the message given by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to Pakistan on 13th December 1971. The Field Marshal lived his words as the world will see the unprecedented surrender of more than 93000 Pakistani soldiers," tweeted the Indian Army on Tuesday.

'You surrender or We wipe you out' was the message given by Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw to Pakistan on 13th December 1971.

The Field Marshal lived his words as the world will see unprecedented surrender of more than 93000 Pakistani soldiers.#IndianArmy#AlwaysVictorious pic.twitter.com/qQGSOMuzlC

— ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) December 15, 2020

Whenever Pakistan has tried to attack India, the Indian Army has taught it a tough lesson. Pakistan fought four wars with India since partition and had to face defeat every time. But the might of 1971 overwhelmed Pakistan the most. In this war, India divided Pakistan into two pieces. On this day, 93 thousand soldiers of Pakistan surrendered to the Indian Army.

This historic victory over Pakistan will complete 50 years on December 16, 2021. India is celebrating this year as the Golden Victory Year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached the National War Memorial on the occasion of Vijay Diwas where he started the Vijay Jyoti Yatra by paying tribute to the martyrs.

Vijay Jyoti Yatra of India

Prime Minister Narendra Modi lit the 'Swarnim Vijay Mashaal' at the National War Memorial on Wednesday to mark the 50th-anniversary of the 1971 India-Pakistan war. On this occasion, the Defence Minister unveiled the logo for 'Swarnim Vijay Varsh.'

Four 'Victory Mashaals' (flames) lit from the Eternal Flame of National War Memorial will be carried to various parts of the country including to villages of Param Vir Chakra and Maha Vir Chakra awardees of 1971 war.

Vijay Diwas is the biggest victory in the history of India. In 1971, 93 thousand soldiers of Pakistan surrendered before the Indian Army. It was the largest surrender of any country after the Second World War and today the celebration of the completion of 50 years of the same bravery of the Indian Army is beginning. 'Vijay Jyoti Yatra' is a program to take the stories of these heroes to every corner of the country so that the stories of the sacrifices of the martyrs and the valor of the Indian Army reach the next generation as well.

Let us tell you that on December 3, 1971, at 5 pm, the fighter planes of Pakistan attacked 11 airbases of India simultaneously. After that, in less than 25 years, the third war between the two countries started.

Why did the India-Pakistan war happen?

Significantly, the biggest reason for the 1971 war was the oppression of the Pakistan Army on East Pakistan. In December 1970, millions of troubled Bengali-speaking people were taking refuge in India. On 27 March 1971, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi supported independence for East Pakistan. After this, the whole of East Pakistan was pitted against the crimes of General Yahya Khan and the Pakistani Army.

Despite the political pressure to start the war immediately, the then Army Chief Sam Manekshaw waited for the right time to attack Pakistan and within the first three days of the fighting, India destroyed both the East Pakistan Air Force and the Navy.

The Pakistani Air Force, which started the 1971 war, was not even known in later days. Indian Air Force aircraft flew over 4 thousand flights over Pakistan. To avoid harm, the Pakistan Air Force stopped attacking.