পাতা:বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্র (ত্রয়োদশ খণ্ড).pdf/৮৫৩

825 ংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ দলিলপত্রঃ ত্রয়োদশ খন্ড were overrun. In Sylhet District Maulvi Bazaar subdivision, two battalion groups attacked and overran border outposts at Dhalai, Athgram and Zakiganj. The battalion groups included two companies of Gurkhas. Another attack was launched in Rangpur District in the Bhurangamari salient were an Indian brigade group penetrated 15 miles into Pakistan territory up to Nageshwari. In Jessore District, a major offensive was launched by a brigade group of the 9th Indian Division, supported by armour and air cover opposite Chaugacha, Indian tanks penetrated about eight miles into Pakistan territory. An Indian air attack was challenged by the Pakistan Air Force. One Indian aircraft was destroyed and we lost two. Six Indian tanks were destroyed in the engagement and eight of ours were disabled. Intermittent shelling of Jessore air field continues. In Mymensingh District, repeated attacks against our border outposts at Karitola have been repulsed. "(c) As many as 12 Indian Divisions have been deployed around East Pakistan. In addition, there are 38 battalions of the Indian Border Security Force. The 2nd and 5th Indian Mountain Division which were previously deployed on the borders with China have also been moved towards East Pakistan. The 8th Mountain Division (of six brigades) has also been moved to the East Pakistan border towards Sylhet from Nagaland were only one brigade is now left. Twelve squadrons of the Indian Air Force are now placed around East Pakistan. A sizable Indian Naval Force comprising an aircraft carrier, frigates, landing ships and two submarines, is standing by, near Vizagapattam, in the Bay of Bengal posing an amphibious threat to Chittagong and Chalna ports. The approaches to Chalna port have" been mined by the Indian forces with the result that two merchant ships chartered for carrying food grains and other essential supplies have been damaged. This will seriously disrupt food supplies to East Pakistan. "(d) As Your Excellency is aware, Indian armed forces in the last few months have maintained pressure all along Pakistan's eastern borders. Apart from training and equipping rebels and launching their attacks supported by Indian Border Security Forces personnel into Pakistan territory, Indian artillery units have been constantly shelling areas in East Pakistan. But, as I have pointed out above, in the last three or four days, the Indian armed forces have turned from localized attacks to open and large-scale warfare on several fronts. They have further escalated the conflict by introducing armour and air force. Pakistan Army and Air Force units in East Pakistan have been under strict orders not to cross the frontiers, and to exercise the utmost restraint in the face of continued grave provocations. The present situation, however, is such that the offensive launched by the Indian armed forces must be met by us with all the force at our command in the defense of our territorial integrity.