Pakistan
Orbat of 9 Infantry Division at the Battle of Jessore, December 3, 1971
HQ 9 Division
Jessore
(Major-General M.H. Ansari)
55 Field Regiment
49 Field Regiment
211 (Independent) Mortar Battery
57 Infantry Brigade
Jhenida
(Brigadier Mazoor Ahmed)
Squadron 29 Cavalry
18 Punjab
29 Baluch
50 Punjab
107 Infantry Brigade
Jessore
(Brigadier Malik Hayat Khan)
6 Punjab
12 Punjab
15 Frontier Force
21 Punjab (Reconnaissance and Support)
22 Frontier Force
38 Frontier Force
Note:
Pakistan 9 Division was opposed by Indian II Corps (Lt.-Gen. T.N. Raina, who as a brigadier had commanded 114 Brigade at the Battle of Chushul in 1962). While the corps itself was nothing more than an HQ, it had two complete divisions under its command: 4 Mountain Division (7, 41, 62 Brigades) and 9 Infantry Division (32, 42, 350 Brigades), with a total of 18 infantry battalions, eight artillery regiments plus additional batteries, two engineer regiments, and two tank squadrons.
Though vastly outnumbered, at nine infantry battalions to India's 18, Pakistan was not as badly off as might be thought because the Jessore position was a very strong one and easily defended. Pakistan 9 Division had ample stores of ammunition had it decided to hold out. Because, however, of faulty strategy imposed at Command, GHQ, and national levels, Pakistan 9 Division abandoned Jessore without any real fight on being bypassed by Indian units.
Though the withdrawal occasioned considerable condemnation within Pakistan of the GOC 9 Division, we believe the criticism was unjustified. The withdrawal in no way reflected on the fighting ability of Pakistani combat units, which was repeatedly proved during the course of the war on both the Eastern and Western fronts.