Pakistan Army order of battle, December 1971


On 25 March 1971, the Pakistani military, supported by the paramilitary units, launched the military operation to pacify the insurgent-held areas of East Pakistan, which led to a prolonged conflict with the Bengali Mukti Bahini. Although conventional in nature during March–May 1971, it soon turned into a guerrilla 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.

Background: Initial deployments against Mukti Bahini

From the March 1971, the Pakistani military's Eastern Command under its commander Lieutenant-General A.A.K. Niazi, started military deployment to provide the defence of borders linked with India against a possible penetration by the Indian Army. During this time, the 9th Infantry Division, headquartered in Jessore under its GOC Major-General Shaukat Riaz, had held the area of responsibility for looking after the looking area south of the Padma River for the defence of borders linked with India while the 16th Infantry Division, that headquartered in Bogra under its GOC Major-General Nazar Hussain Shah, had been responsible for the area north of Padma and west of Jamuna rivers.
The 14th Infantry Division under its GOC Major-General Rahim Khan, was headquartered in Dhaka that had the entire area of responsibility for the rest of the province.
The original plan was based on a series of exercises, known as Titumeer, which were held during 1970–1971, was revised several times and approved in October 1971. General Niazi had created 4 ad hoc infantry brigades 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

Commander, Eastern Command: Lt. Gen. A.A.K. Niazi

GOC, 14th Infantry Division : Maj. Gen. Khadim Hussain Raja

Military Advisor: Maj. Gen. Rao Farman Ali

COS: Brig. Baqir Siddiqi

CO Artillery: Brig. S.S.A. Kashim

CO Armoured: Col. Bakhtier

CO Engineers: Brig. Iqbal Sharif

CO Signals: Brig. Areef Reza

CO Medical: Brig. Fahim Ahmed Khan

CO SSG Army: Lt. Col. Tariq Mehmood

:Category:Directors-General of the Inter-Services Public Relations|Dir. ISPR: Major Siddique Salik

Dir. Military Intelligence: Major K.M. Arif
**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
**Army Aviation Squadron #4 – Lt. Col. Liakat Bokhari

Dhaka Defense Scheme (adhoc)

Brig. Kashim : Dhaka Cantonment & Tongi area

Brig. Mian Mansoor : Munshiganj & Narayanganj

Brig. T.H. Malik: Hilli & Bogra

Brig. Bashir: Dhaka city proper

Brig. William Harrison: Comilla & Chittagong
GOC: Major General Muhammad Jamshed HQ Dhaka

Area of Operation: Dhaka, Tangail and Mymensingh districts
GOC: Major General Abdul Majid Qazi, HQ Brahmanbaria

Area of Operation: Sylhet and Northern Comilla districts
Also: Wings of Tochi, Thal and Khyber scouts

Moulvibazar

GOC: Maj. Gen. Rahim Khan – Chandpur

Area of Operation: Comilla, Feni and Northern Chittagong
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
GOC: Maj. Gen HM. H. Ansari HQ Jessore

Area of Operation: Khulna, Jessore, Kushtia, Faridpur, Barisal and Patuakhali districts
, Dacca airbase: Air Cdre Inamul Haque Khan

Officer Commanding : GP.Capt. Zulfiqar Ali Khan

Officer-in Charge, No. 14 Squadron "Tail-choppers’’: Wg. Cdr. Mohammed Afzal Chowdhury
Flag Officer Commanding, Eastern Naval Command: R.Adm Mohammad Shariff

CO Pakistan Marines/CO SSG Navy: Capt. Ahmad Zamir
Dir. MILCOM: Cdr. T.K. Khan

Dir. Nav Intel.: Cdr. Mansurul Haq