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The Pakistan Army launched Operation Searchlight on 25 March 1971, to pacify which led to a prolonged conflict with the Bengali Mukti Bahini. 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 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.
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Background: Initial deployments against Mukti Bahini
Pakistan army started to work on a plan of defence against a possible Bangladesh 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, 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 3 December 1971, was:
Eastern Command Headquarters Dhaka
GOC: Lt. General A. A. K. Niazi
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
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. Mian Mansoor (East): Munshiganj & Narayanganj
Brig. Bashir: Dhaka city proper
Pakistan Air Force CO: Air Commodore Enamul Huq
**No. 14 Squadron ‘’Tail-choppers’’: 20 F-86 Sabers
**Training unit: 3 T-33
Pakistan Navy CO: Commodore Mohammad Sharif
36 Ad hoc Infantry Division
GOC: Major General Muhammad Jamshed HQ Dhaka
Area of Operation: Dhaka, Tangail and Mymensingh districts
14 Infantry Division
GOC: Major General Abdul Majid Qazi, HQ Brahmanbaria
Area of Operation: Sylhet and Northern Comilla districts
Sylhet
Also: Wings of Tochi, Thal and Khyber scouts
Maulavibazar
Brahmanbaria
39 Ad hoc Division
GOC: Maj. Gen. Rahim Khan (replaced by Brig. Mian Mansoor) – Chandpur
Area of Operation: Comilla, Feni and Northern Chittagong
Comilla
Feni
Ramgarh
Chittagong
16th Infantry Division
GOC: Maj. Gen. Nazar Hussain Shah HQ: Bogra, then Natore
Area of Operation: Rajshahi, Bogra, Dinajpur, Rangpur and Pabna
Districts
**29th Cavalry less elements –Rangpur
Saidpur
Bogra
Nator
Rajshahi
9th Infantry Division
GOC: Maj. Gen HM. H. Ansari HQ Jessore
Area of Operation: Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia, Faridpur, Barisal and Patuakhali districts