Operation Searchlight order of battle: Pakistan

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Operation Searchlight troop distribution March71.PNG
Operation Searchlight troop distribution

The Pakistani plan for a military action which commenced on 25 March 1971, in the then East Pakistan was code-named Operation Searchlight. This is the Operation Searchlight order of battle which was outlined on 19 March 1971, by Major General Khadim Hussain Raja, GOC 14th infantry division, and Major General Rao Farman Ali in the GHQ of Pakistan Army in Dhaka, (then) East Pakistan.

Contents

Pakistani Forces

MLA Headquarters and Eastern Command in Dhaka

Lt. General Tikka Khan Governor and Chief Martial Law Administrator Major General Iftekhar Janjua – Advisor Major General Shawkat Riza – Advisor Brigadier Gulam Jilani – Chief of Staff MLA HQ Brigadier Nessar Ahmed – Director General EPR

Major General Khadim Hussain Raja – GOC 14th Infantry Division and OC East Pakistan Colonel Staff: Col. Saadullah G.S.O -1 (Operations): Lt. Col Taj Khan G.S.O -1 (Intelligence): Lt. Col Minwari

Attached Units:

Pakistan Air Force: CO: Air Commodore Inam Ul Haq Khan

Pakistan Navy: Rear Admiral Sharif

Dhaka

Major General Rao Farman Ali: Officer Commanding Dhaka Area

  • 57th Infantry Brigade: Brigadier General M. Jahanzeb Arbab
    • 22nd Baluch Regiment: Pilkhana Dhaka
    • 18th Punjab Regiment
    • 32nd Punjab Regiment – Lt. Col. Taj
    • 31st Field Artillery Regiment – Lt. Col. Zahed Hassan
    • 13th Frontier Force Regiment – Reserve and Cantonment Security

Comilla

  • 53rd Infantry Brigade: Brig. Iqbal Shaffi
    • 31st Punjab – Lt. Col. Sarfraz Ahmed Khan and later Lt Col Riaz Hussain (stationed at Sylhet).
    • 20th Baluch – Lt. Col. SH Fatami (stationed at Chittagong).
    • 53rd Field Artillery – Lt. Col. Yakub Malik ( acting Garrison/Fortress Commander in absence of Brig Iqbal).
    • 3rd Commando Battalion – Lt. Col. Z.A. Khan. (Moved to Dacca for Operation Searchlight).
    • 171st Mortar Battery.
    • 40th Field Ambulance – Lt. Col. A.N.M Jahangir.
    • Brigade Intelligence Detachment

Chittagong Relief Column: (Brig. Iqbal Shaffi)

    • 24th Frontier Force – Lt. Col Shahpur Khan (after Shahpur fell in action, the command of only infantry battalion in the Column was taken over by Brigadier Iqbal himself).
    • 88th Mortar Battery.
    • Brigade Signals Detachment.
    • No Engineering Elements.

Chittagong

CO: Brig. Iqbal Shafi from April when HQ 53 Brigade was airlifted from Comilla, replaced by 107 Brigade (ex 9 Division) on arrival from West Pakistan.

Lt. Col. Abdul Aziz Sheikh: Sector Commander EPR;

Brig Mujamdar - Center Commadant EBR.

    • 20th Baluch – Lt. Col. SH Fatami
      • Company 31st Punjab

Pakistan Navy: Commodore A.R. Mumtaj - Chittagong Naval Base

    • PNS Jahangir (destroyer): Commander T.K Khan
    • PNS Rajshahi (Gunboat)
    • PNS Balaghat (Patrol boat)

Sylhet

Rangpur

Jessore

References