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Journalism of Courage
December 3: Pakistan Air Force launches air strikes against Indian airfields in the Western Sector, including Amritsar, Pathankot, Srinagar, Avantipura, Ambala, Sirsa, Halwara, Agra
December 3 to 6: Indian Air Force retaliates by attacking Pakistan air bases in Western and Eastern sectors. Pakistan attacks Indian ground positions in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir
December 4: Battle of Longewala takes place in Rajasthan where Pakistani advance towards Jaisalmer is thwarted
December 5: Battle of Ghazipur in East Pakistan. Battle of Basantar in Western sector in Pakistan’s Punjab in the Shakargarh salient near Sialkot. Battle of Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur district of Punjab
December 6: India formally recognises Bangladesh as an independent nation. City of Jessore is liberated
December 7: Battle of Sylhet and Moulovi Bazaar begins in Bangladesh
December 8: Indian Navy launches attack on the Pakistani port city of Karachi
December 9: Indian Army fights Battle of Kushtia in Bangladesh. Chandpur and Daudkandi liberated. A helicopter bridge airlifts Indian troops across Meghna river and makes the fall of Dhaka a matter of time
December 10: Chittagong air base in Bangladesh attacked by Indian Air Force aircraft
December 11: Tangail airdrop of a Parachute Battalion to cut off retreating Pakistani troops in Bangladesh
December 12 to 16: Indian forces push through to Dhaka and enter the city. Pakistan Eastern Command Commander Lt Gen AAK Niazi signs the instrument of surrender and capitulates to Indian Eastern Commander Lt Gen Jagjit Singh Aurora. As many as 93,000 Pakistani troops lay down their arms in Bangladesh
