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What happened when Pakistani forces surrendered in Dhaka on December 16, 1971?
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On December 16, 1971, Pakistani forces in East Pakistan surrendered to Indian forces in Dhaka, bringing the Bangladesh Liberation War to an end.123
This surrender was the culmination of a military offensive launched by India on December 3, 1971, following Pakistani air strikes on Indian air bases. The defeat of the Pakistani military secured the independence of Bangladesh, an event that is commemorated annually in the country as Victory Day. Following the conclusion of the conflict, the political landscape shifted significantly: in Pakistan, Yahya Khan was deposed and replaced by Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, while Mujibur Rahman was released from imprisonment and returned to Dhaka to a hero's welcome.1243