Historical Event on 12/16/1971

Bangladesh was formed. President Yahya Khan of Pakistan changed his position dramatically and announced he would accept a ceasefire with India. After his forces in East Pakistan surrendered unconditionally, Yahya Khan vowed to keep fighting in the West against his political enemy. His reversal today undermines his administration, and there are growing indications he will step down as head of the military government. Yahya has already been criticized for his brutal repression of the Bengali separatist movement, which has renamed East Pakistan as Bangladesh. It appears that the separatists may actually benefit from the fighting, because India has managed to defeat most of Yahya's military forces in East Pakistan.