East Pakistan
In 1971, a period of political turmoil in Pakistan, Niazi was the most highly decorated officer in the Pakistan Army. In April 1971, he was sent to East Pakistan after a Pakistani military crackdown on Bengali intellectuals. On 25 March, Operation Searchlight, planned and executed by Lieutenant General Tikka Khan and Major General Rao Farman Ali, had made the population of East Pakistan hostile to the Pakistan Armed Forces, and Pakistan was internationally condemned for its military action. There is no public evidence that Niazi publicly condemned the military operation of 25 March. However, during the meeting, he mildly condemned the operation after its outcomes had surfaced. In April 1971, General Niazi became commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Army, replacing Tikka Khan. Throughout this period, Niazi headed the military operations of the Pakistan Army in East Pakistan. On 31 November 1971, Niazi received a message from General Abdul Hamid Khan, Chief of General Staff, saying, "The whole nation is proud of you and you have their full support". On 3 December, the Pakistan Air Force launched Operation Chengiz Khan without notifying the Eastern Military High Command.
Read more about this topic: Amir Abdullah Khan Niazi
Famous quotes containing the word east:
“We have a great deal more kindness than is ever spoken. Maugre all the selfishness that chills like east winds the world, the whole human family is bathed with an element of love like a fine ether.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)