Photo: AFPA conversation between Henry Kissinger and General Westmoreland about the birth of BangladeshThree days after a full-scale war between India and Pakistan in the eastern frontier and Bangladesh-India jointly against Pakistan in the eastern theatre, Henry Kissinger asked how long could the Pakistan troops hold in Bangladesh. Once the Pakistan Army runs out of supplies, all the troops in East Pakistan [Bangladesh] will become hostage. The officials discussed whether there were any possibilities of Pakistan troop's evacuation. The United States sriously wanted to stick with withdrawal and ceasefire, not a surrender of Pakistan troops. An estimated 93,000 Pakistan troops and civilians made an unconditional public surrender in Dhaka on December 16, 1971, which is observed as Victory Day each year.

Source: Dhaka Tribune December 21, 2020 19:07 UTC