1971-12-13
Officers in Dacca Think Indians Will Reach the City in 48 Hours
Page: 17
The following pool dispatch was transmitted to the United States yesterday from 13 correspondents in East Pakistan. representing The Associated Press, United Press International, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Christian Science Monitor. The Wall Street Journal, the American Broadcasting Company, the Columbia Broadcasting System, the National Broadcasting Company and The Washington Post:
DACCA, Pakistan, Dec. 12—Indian troops were advancing on Dacca from three directions tonight and senior Pakistani officers predicted they would reach the East. Pakistani capital within 48 hours.
Pakistani officers said that their defenses were disorganized and crumbling, but the eastern commander, Lieut. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi, said he was determined not to surrender.
Indian paratroop drops to the north and northeast of Dacca last night and the reported column crossing the Daudkandi River put three Indian units within 15 miles of the city.
Officials Are Dispirited
Word of the imminence of an Indian attack came from nervous and dispirited officials at Government House.
Communications with Pakistani field commanders are largely dirsupted, all 16 Pakistani F‐86 Sabre jets have been destroyed and there is little artillery to defend Dacca, where less than a brigade awaits the Indian assault.
Continue reading the main story
One general spoke melodramatically of throwing himself under a tank, but it is likely that no tanks would be available. Other senior Pakistanis, were expecting to be taken prisoner by the Indians but were fearful that the Bengali guerrillas would reach them first.
There are six major generals and General Niazi presently in East Pakistan revised estimates now give the size of the Pakistani Army in East Pakistan at the start of the war as 60,000 men. Several general, including Maj. Gen. Rao Farman Ali Khan, the military adviser to the East Pakistan Governor, proposed Friday the surrender of East Pakistan in exchange for protection of military and civilian officals and civilian sympathizers. The offer initially was said to have had President Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan's approval but late Friday other generals in West Pakistan apparently persuaded the President to change his mind and the surrender plan died.
The Governor of East Pakistan, A. M. Malik, is reported ailing and no longer making administrative decisions. Other officials say they are under West Pakistan orders to man their offices and have told visitors they will be shot if they disobey.