FPSC (Federal Public Service Commission) · CSS (Central Superior Services)
1971 War & Fall of Dhaka
Military History & Operations in Pakistan
· Pakistan Studies/Affairs
50 MCQs
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of 50 MCQs
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1
Which political party won the majority of seats in the December 1970 General Elections in Pakistan?
Answer:
Awami League
The Awami League, led by Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, won a landslide victory in the 1970 elections, securing 160 out of 162 seats reserved for East Pakistan in the National Assembly. This gave them an absolute majority in the overall house, but the refusal of the military regime and the PPP to hand over power led to a political deadlock.
2
What was the name of the military operation launched by the Pakistan Army on March 25, 1971, in East Pakistan?
Answer:
Operation Searchlight
Operation Searchlight was a planned military crackdown started by the Pakistan Army to curb the Bengali nationalist movement in East Pakistan. It began on the night of March 25, 1971, leading to widespread conflict and the eventual arrest of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, which served as the immediate trigger for the civil war.
3
Who was the President of Pakistan during the 1971 conflict?
Answer:
General Yahya Khan
General Agha Muhammad Yahya Khan was the President and Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan during the 1971 crisis. His handling of the election results and the subsequent military action in East Pakistan are often cited by historians as primary factors leading to the secession of the eastern wing.
4
What was the name of the guerrilla resistance force formed by Bengalis to fight against the Pakistan Army?
Answer:
Mukti Bahini
The Mukti Bahini (Liberation Army) was the popular resistance movement formed by Bengali military, paramilitary, and civilians during the 1971 war. They received significant training, arms, and logistical support from India, enabling them to wage effective guerrilla warfare against the Pakistan Army.
5
On which date did the formal surrender of Pakistani forces take place in Dhaka?
Answer:
December 16, 1971
The Fall of Dhaka occurred on December 16, 1971, when the Eastern Command of the Pakistan Armed Forces signed the Instrument of Surrender. This date is celebrated as 'Victory Day' in Bangladesh and is remembered as a day of national tragedy in Pakistan.
6
Who signed the Instrument of Surrender on behalf of the Pakistan Army?
Answer:
Lieutenant General A.A.K. Niazi
Lieutenant General Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi, the Commander of the Eastern Command, signed the surrender document at the Ramna Race Course in Dhaka. He surrendered his forces to Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora of the Indian Army.
7
Which agreement was signed between India and Pakistan in 1972 to normalize relations after the war?
Answer:
Simla Agreement
The Simla Agreement was signed on July 2, 1972, by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Indira Gandhi. The treaty paved the way for the return of 93,000 Pakistani Prisoners of War (POWs) and the return of territories captured during the war, while also establishing the Line of Control (LoC) in Kashmir.
8
What was the main political demand of the Awami League known as?
Answer:
The Six Points
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's 'Six Points' program, presented in 1966, demanded extensive provincial autonomy for East Pakistan, including control over its own currency, taxes, and trade. The federal government viewed these points as a blueprint for secession, while the Bengalis saw them as the only way to end economic disparity.
9
Which commission was established in Pakistan to investigate the causes of the military failure in 1971?
Answer:
Hamoodur Rahman Commission
The Hamoodur Rahman Commission was appointed by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and headed by Chief Justice Hamoodur Rahman. The commission's report analyzed the political and military circumstances leading to the surrender, though its full contents were kept classified for many years.
10
Who was the Prime Minister of India during the 1971 war?
Answer:
Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi was the Indian Prime Minister who provided military and diplomatic support to the Bengali resistance. She ordered the Indian Army to intervene in East Pakistan following Pakistani air strikes on western Indian airfields on December 3, 1971.
11
Which Pakistani submarine was lost under mysterious circumstances near Visakhapatnam in 1971?
Answer:
PNS Ghazi
PNS Ghazi, Pakistan's only long-range submarine at the time, was dispatched to the Bay of Bengal to target the Indian aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. It sank on December 4, 1971, with all hands on board. While India claims to have sunk it, Pakistani records suggest an internal accidental explosion.
12
In which city did the provisional government of Bangladesh (Mujibnagar Government) take oath?
Answer:
Meherpur
The provisional government of Bangladesh was formed in April 1971 at Baidyanathtala (later renamed Mujibnagar) in the Meherpur district, near the Indian border. Since Sheikh Mujib was in custody, Syed Nazrul Islam served as the acting president.
13
Who was the leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) who contested the election results in 1970-71?
Answer:
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, whose party won the majority in West Pakistan, insisted on a power-sharing arrangement and refused to attend the National Assembly session in Dhaka. His famous slogan 'Idhar Hum, Udhar Tum' (We here, You there) symbolized the political polarization of the country.
14
Which major world power supported Pakistan diplomatically and sent the Seventh Fleet to the Bay of Bengal in 1971?
Answer:
United States
The United States, under President Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger, supported Pakistan as a Cold War ally and as a bridge for their opening with China. The US sent the USS Enterprise (part of the Seventh Fleet) to the Bay of Bengal as a show of force, though it did not intervene directly.
15
Which country signed a 'Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation' with India in August 1971?
Answer:
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union signed this treaty with India in August 1971, providing India with a strategic security guarantee against potential Chinese or American intervention on behalf of Pakistan. This allowed India to move its troops from the northern borders to the eastern front.
16
What was the name of the 1968 case in which Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was accused of conspiring with India to secede?
Answer:
Agartala Conspiracy Case
The Agartala Conspiracy Case was filed by the Ayub Khan government against Mujib and 34 others, alleging a plot to launch an armed revolt with Indian help. The case was eventually withdrawn in 1969 due to massive public protests in East Pakistan, which turned Mujib into a national hero.
17
Who was the Commander-in-Chief of the Mukti Bahini?
Answer:
Colonel M.A.G. Osmani
Colonel (later General) Muhammad Ataul Gani Osmani was the Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Forces (Mukti Bahini). He organized the irregular guerrilla units and regular sectors to systematically challenge Pakistani control over the province.
18
What was the approximately total number of Pakistani Prisoners of War (POWs) taken by India after the surrender?
Answer:
93,000
After the surrender on December 16, a total of 93,000 Pakistanis were taken as POWs, including 79,676 military personnel and approximately 13,000 civilians. They were moved to various camps in India and were eventually released following the Simla and Delhi agreements.
19
On which date did Pakistan officially recognize Bangladesh as an independent state?
Answer:
February 1974
Pakistan officially recognized Bangladesh during the second Islamic Summit (OIC) held in Lahore in February 1974. This recognition followed intense diplomatic pressure from fellow Muslim countries and was a necessary step for normalizing regional relations.
20
Which natural disaster in November 1970 is said to have fueled Bengali grievances due to a poor government response?
Answer:
Bhola Cyclone
The Bhola Cyclone of November 1970 was one of the deadliest tropical cyclones in history. The perceived slow and inadequate relief effort by the central government in West Pakistan was used by the Awami League to demonstrate the 'step-motherly' treatment of East Pakistan, boosting their election campaign.
