On this day, December 7, 1971, freedom fighters and Indian army had surrounded the Pakistani occupation forces in all frontiers making them bound to retreat.
Indian paratroopers drop near Sylhet airport. They attack the main Pakistani base in Sylhet. The Pakistani general in-charge of Sylhet is compelled to surrender with his troops.
This day, fierce clashes took place in different places which caused casualties for both sides. But freedom fighters had outplayed Pakistan army in most of the war zones.
Consequently, different districts like Jashore, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, Sherpur and Kurigram freed from the clutches of Pakistan army.
The 9th division of Indian army reach Jashore Cantonment from the northern side. They enter without any resistance. They are astonished seeing the desolated army establishment.
Pakistan army abscond from the cantonment, leaving huge arms, ammunitions and control room maps behind.
A fierce skirmish continue at Bhaluka in Mymensingh as Major Afsar’s troops attack the police station, a camp of Pakistan army, from three sides.
Allied force take control of Chandina and Jafarganj. Turbulent wars continue at Comilla and Laksham. Nalitabari upazila of the Sherpur district was freed from the occupation of Pakistani forces.
A violent Indo-Pakistan bloodshed continue centring Kartowa Bridge on Bogura-Rangpur highway.
US decides to dismiss financial aid to India.
This day, Pakistan President Yahya Khan had sent a message to US President Richard Nixon, requesting all material support to prevent the separation of Pakistan.
In his message, Yahya told Nixon that if India succeeds in its objective, the loss of ‘East Pakistan’ with a population of 70 million people will also be a threat to the security of South Asia.
It would bring under Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR) domination the region of Assam, Burma, Thailand and Malaysia, the message said.
On December 7, 1971, the UN General Assembly by vote of 104 to 11 with 10 abstentions called on India and Pakistan to institute an immediate ceasefire and withdraw troops from each other’s territory. Pakistan accepted the resolution but India refused.
On this day, President Yahya Khan called on the Bengali politician Nurul Amin to become Pakistan’s first Prime Minister since 1958 (Mr. Amin was against the secession of East Pakistan) as his last effort to save Pakistan.
Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev urged for a peaceful solution of the war without intervention of any outsiders. US decided to stop providing financial aid to India.
New York Times on the day observed that the image of American nation had largely been tarnished for the naked support extended by Washington to Islamabad.
