region) himself entered affairs by sending Capt. Malik a note via a Mukti Bahini courier: '...whatever you decide to do we have every intention of eliminating Kamalpur post. It is to save you and our side casualties this message is being sent to you ...' He sent another note after a further air strike and this was met, as had been the other messages, by increased firing by Malik's men. But it could not go on, Malik received the order by radio to surrender, which he did at 1900 that day. Sukhwant Singh stated, 'He had put up a courageous stand ... and surrendered after holding a brigade of besiegers for 21 days ... Sam Manekshaw sent a personal congratulatory message to Malik commending his defiant stand.' and wrote 'Militarily his performance was excellent'. Maj. Gen. Gurbux Singh decided to meet Malik personally but, while being driven towards Kamalpur by Kler, their jeep went over a mine, and he was badly wounded. When Capt. Malik's force was taken in, it was found that his company was nearly out of ammunition, barring a few hand grenades and a few bullets each. They were ready to fling themselves on the enemy with daggers and bayonets if it came to that, until they realised that the piece of territory they were defending was already a different country. When he returned to Pakistan, he was decorated with a Sitara-e-Jurrat which is the third highest military award in Pakistan. Later on, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Chief of Army Staff of the Indian Army at the time, acknowledged the bravery of Malik's men in a letter written to his Pakistani counterpart. He even wrote a personal letter to Malik. Awards and decorations See also Last Stand Defence of Kamalpur References Baloch Regiment officers 1948 births Living people