Operation Jackpot

Operation Jackpot was a codename for three operations undertaken by Bengali Mukti Bahini in former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) against the Federation of Pakistan at the climax of the Bangladesh Liberation War.

Operation Jackpot
Part of Bangladesh Liberation War

Map of Operation Jackpot, Indian Supply network for Mukti Bahini.
Date25 April—15 August 1971
Location
Result
  • Mukti Bahini operation success.
  • Tactically devastating failure of the Pakistan Navy 15 August - 16 Dec. 1971
Belligerents
Bangladesh
 Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Col. M. A. G Osmani
Major Rafiqul Islam
* Lt. Col. Khaled Musharraf
* Major M. A Jalil
* Submariner Abdul Wahed Chowdhury
* Submariner Ahsanullah
* Submariner Badiul Alam
* Lt.Com.Shahed Ali Khan
* Submariner Shahjahan
Mukti Bahini Sector 10

Lt-Gen. A. A. K. Niazi
(Cdr. of Eastern Command)
Maj-Gen. Khadim Hussain
(GOC 14th Infantry Division)
Maj-Gen. R. Farman Ali
(Mil-Adv. East Pakistan Police)
R-Adm Mohammad Shariff
(FOC of Eastern Command)
Capt. Ahmad Zamir
(CO, Pakistan Marines Corps East) 1st Cmdo Btn. (Yaldram), SSG

Pakistan Navy

Lt. Col Ziaur Rahman
(CO, Z Force Brigade)
Lt. Col Khaled Mosharraf
(CO, K Force Brigade)
Lt. Col K M Shafiullah
(CO, K Force Brigade)
Major Rafiqul Islam
* Major A.T.M Haider
* Major C. R. Dutta
* Major Mir Shawkat Ali
Units involved

Indian Army

  • IV Corps
    • 8 Mountain Division
    • 23 Mountain Division
    • 57 Mountain Division

Mukti Bahini

Pakistan Army

Pakistan Navy


East Pakistan Civil Armed Force

  • 6 Sector HQ wings, 17 operational Wings

After Pakistan Army drove the Bengali resistance across the Indian border at the conclusion of Operation Searchlight, the Indian Army implemented a supply and training operation for the Mukti Bahini from 15 May 1971, with the goal of sending an ever increasing number of trained fighters to attack Pakistani forces and sabotage military and economic assets to demoralize the Pakistani soldiers and disrupt their supply network. This enterprise was dubbed "Operation Jackpot".

The Mukti Bahini Naval Commandos launched several sabotage efforts in the cities of Chittagong, Chandpur, Mongla, and the Narayanganj District against the operating combined forces of the Pakistan Soldiers, Pakistan Marines, Pakistan Navy SEAL Teams, and the East Pakistan Security Forces on the night of 15 August 1971. Bengali submariners who had defected from Pakistani submarine PNS Mangro (S133), then based in Toulon, France, led the attacks, and this is also known as part of Operation Jackpot. The Pakistani military initiated countermeasures to improve security by increasing door-to-door clearance and applied counterinsurgency tactics by the Army Special Forces and the Navy SEAL Teams, but this failed to curb Mukti Bahini activity.

The third operation was designed by Lt. Gen Sagat Singh, commander of the Indian Army IV Corps, attached to the Eastern Command, and the Bangladesh forces operating in his operational area. These forces fought against the Pakistani forces in Sylhet, Comilla, and Chittagong as part of the overall campaign from 21 November to 16 December 1971.

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