<P> On 16 December 1971 , Lt. Gen Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi , CO of Pakistan Army forces located in East Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender . At the time of surrender only a few countries had provided diplomatic recognition to the new nation . Over 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered to the Indian forces & Bangladesh Liberation forces , making it the largest surrender since World War II , although the Pakistani Army had fought gallantly according to Indian Army Chief Sam Manekshaw . Bangladesh sought admission in the UN with most voting in its favour , but China vetoed this as Pakistan was its key ally . The United States , also a key ally of Pakistan , was one of the last nations to accord Bangladesh recognition . To ensure a smooth transition , in 1972 the Simla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan . The treaty ensured that Pakistan recognised the independence of Bangladesh in exchange for the return of the Pakistani PoWs . India treated all the PoWs in strict accordance with the Geneva Convention , rule 1925 . It released more than 93,000 Pakistani PoWs in five months . Further , as a gesture of goodwill , nearly 200 soldiers who were sought for war crimes by Bengalis were also pardoned by India . The accord also gave back 13,000 km ( 5,019 sq mi ) of land that Indian troops had seized in West Pakistan during the war , though India retained a few strategic areas ; most notably Kargil ( which would in turn again be the focal point for a war between the two nations in 1999 ) . This was done as a measure of promoting `` lasting peace '' and was acknowledged by many observers as a sign of maturity by India . However , some in India felt that the treaty had been too lenient to Bhutto , who had pleaded for leniency , arguing that the fragile democracy in Pakistan would crumble if the accord was perceived as being overly harsh by Pakistanis . </P>
<P> On 16 December 1971 , Lt. Gen Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi , CO of Pakistan Army forces located in East Pakistan signed the Instrument of Surrender . At the time of surrender only a few countries had provided diplomatic recognition to the new nation . Over 93,000 Pakistani troops surrendered to the Indian forces & Bangladesh Liberation forces , making it the largest surrender since World War II , although the Pakistani Army had fought gallantly according to Indian Army Chief Sam Manekshaw . Bangladesh sought admission in the UN with most voting in its favour , but China vetoed this as Pakistan was its key ally . The United States , also a key ally of Pakistan , was one of the last nations to accord Bangladesh recognition . To ensure a smooth transition , in 1972 the Simla Agreement was signed between India and Pakistan . The treaty ensured that Pakistan recognised the independence of Bangladesh in exchange for the return of the Pakistani PoWs . India treated all the PoWs in strict accordance with the Geneva Convention , rule 1925 . It released more than 93,000 Pakistani PoWs in five months . Further , as a gesture of goodwill , nearly 200 soldiers who were sought for war crimes by Bengalis were also pardoned by India . The accord also gave back 13,000 km ( 5,019 sq mi ) of land that Indian troops had seized in West Pakistan during the war , though India retained a few strategic areas ; most notably Kargil ( which would in turn again be the focal point for a war between the two nations in 1999 ) . This was done as a measure of promoting `` lasting peace '' and was acknowledged by many observers as a sign of maturity by India . However , some in India felt that the treaty had been too lenient to Bhutto , who had pleaded for leniency , arguing that the fragile democracy in Pakistan would crumble if the accord was perceived as being overly harsh by Pakistanis . </P>
who led the indian army during the bangladesh liberation war of 1971
who led the indian army during the bangladesh liberation war of 1971
Sam Manekshaw
Sam Manekshaw