‘Gen Niazi wanted truce not surrender’

NEW DELHI—Vetran of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War Lt Gen J F R Jacob on Friday said the then Pakistan army commander A A K Niazi only wanted to sign a ceasefire deal instead of an “unconditional surrender” as demanded by India.
Jacob, who drafted the Instrument of Surrender for the December 16 surrendering ceremony, said the Pakistani commander did not want to sign a document suggesting the “unconditional surrender” to India-Bangladesh joint forces, reported PTI.
He also said Niazi, later during his stay in Calcutta as a prisoner of war, accused Jacob of “blackmailing” him in signing the document instilling in him the fears of reprisals by the liberation forces.
“But I never blackmailed him,” said the Indian general who is leading an 11-member delegation of 1971 war veterans from India to Bangladesh, participating in the emergency-ruled country’s independence day celebrations. He said Lt Gen Niazi was made to surrender in public against his insistence that the ceremony be organised at his Dhaka cantonment office.
“No you must surrender before the people of Dhaka. We wanted the Pakistani troops to surrender in public as they had carried out so much atrocities on the people of this country,” Jacob said recalling that the ceremony was organised at the Race Course Maidan.
The Indian general, however, said it was a risky to organise the ceremony in public at that turbulent time when “we did not have enough Indian troops at the scene to ensure the security. But there are always risks in wars.” Jacob praised the freedom fighters, including the East Bengal Regiment soldiers, saying they emerged as “terror for Pakistani troops.”
“Their contribution was crucial to the emergence of Bangladesh. They deserve the full credit. This is the first time when the 1971 war veterans were invited to Bangladesh after the Liberation War. India and Bangladesh need each other,” Jacob said as he described the bilateral relations as excellent.
He said, the two neighbours should strengthen the historic and geographical bondage exploring ways for enhanced trade and economic ties and people to people relations for mutual progress and benefit.  —Agencies