NEW DELHI, Thursday, Dec. 16—Pakistan's army commander in East Pakistan surrendered to India today, and a military spokesman said the formal capitulation ceremony could take place in Dacca in the next few hours.

The Pakistani commander, Lieut. Gen. A. A. K. Niazi, had asked for a senior Indian staff officer to go to the East Pakistan capital, the spokesman said.

Maj. Gen. J. F. R. Jacob, Chief of Staff of India's Eastern Command, was on his way by, helicopter from Calcutta.

Indian message to Pakistani commander is on Page 16.

Indian intelligence picked up messages from General Niazi—who had earlier vowed to fight the Indians to the last man—telling his soldiers in scattered parts of East Pakistan of his decision to surrender.

General Jacob left Calcutta for Dacca to work out the terms of the surrender of East Pakistan shortly after General Niazi asked for a six‐hour extension of a 16‐hour Indian bombing pause. The request for a six-hour extension of the pause was presumably to allow General Niazi time to get in touch with all his forces.

Indian troops have been increasing the pressure on Dacca for the last week, and a Pakistani capitulation has been considered only a matter of time for several days.