Pakistani order of battle for Operation Searchlight in 1971


The Pakistani plan for a military action which commenced on March 25, 1971 in the then East Pakistan was code-named Operation Searchlight. This is the Operation Searchlight order of battle which was outlined on March 19, 1971 by Major General Khadim Hussain Raja, GOC 14th infantry division, and Major General Rao Farman Ali in the GHQ of Pakistan Army in Dhaka, East Pakistan.

Pakistani Forces

MLA Headquarters and Eastern Command in Dhaka

Lt. General Tikka Khan Governor and Chief Martial Law Administrator
Major General Iftekhar Janjua – Advisor
Major General Shawkat Riza – Advisor
Brigadier Gulam Jilani – Chief of Staff MLA HQ
Brigadier Nessar Ahmed – Director General EPR
Major General Khadim Hussain Raja – GOC 14th Infantry Division and OC East Pakistan
Colonel Staff: Col. Saadullah
G.S.O -1 : Lt. Col Taj Khan
G.S.O -1 : Lt. Col Minwari
Attached Units:
Pakistan Air Force:
CO: Air Commodore Enamul Huq
Pakistan Navy:
Rear Admiral Sharif
Major General Rao Farman Ali: Officer Commanding Dhaka Area
Chittagong Relief Column:
CO: Brig. Iqbal Shafi from April when HQ 53 Brigade was airlifted from Comilla, replaced by 107 Brigade on arrival from West Pakistan.
Lt. Col. Abdul Aziz Sheikh: Sector Commander EPR;
Brig Mujamdar - Center Commadant EBR.
Pakistan Navy:
Commodore A.R. Mumtaj - Chittagong Naval Base