The strategic importance of Jessore
By LT. GEN. L. P. SEN, Our Military Correspondent, The West Bengal border town of Boyra, located 80 km. north-east of Calcutta was the scene of two recent battles. One was fought by tanks on November 21 and the other by fighter air-craft the next day. Military, the two actions are linked. When the Pakistani armor received a mauling, the Pakistani Air Force Saber jets violates Indian airspace in order to obtain information of vital importance, obviously, to glean whether the Indian forces were exploiting or preparing to exploit success and move along the road towards the town of Jessore a bare 30 km. to the east.
These two actions initiated by Pakistan were not born of any momentary whim. They were undertaken because in the overall plan for the defense of East Pakistan, the town of Jessore is of great strategic importance.
Jessore is the kingpin of the road and railway communications in the area to the west of the Madhumati. From it a road runs to Kushtia in the north and to Khulna port in the south. To the west is India, whosoever controls Jessore must therefore, control the major portion of the area.
In view of this, it is one of Pakistan’s three major cantonments in East Pakistan. It has always housed the equivalent of a brigade group and an element of the Air Force and in the event of a war with India had a very definite role. It was to threaten West Bengal and when contained and pushed back to be of nuisance value.
The mounting Mukti Bahini attacks in the region of Jessore and reports that advances are being made on Jessore from three directions, north, south and west must have caused great concern to the Pakistani commander. He must have realized that the fall of Jessore would result in the loss of a vast area, and in consequence he probably planned an operation to be carried out in three phases.
He perhaps decided to break the main concentration in the west first and therefore venture forth towards the Indian border with his armor. His plan would certainly have been to deal with the southern thrust next and finally the northern one. Unfortunately for Pakistan the western venture misfired as the armor advanced far enough to present a threat to Indian defenses and was struck. It can now be assumed that Jessore will face further hazards.
Should this happen the main difficulty that will confront Pakistan will be how to reinforce its Jessore garrison. Khulna port, the main source of entry has been subjected to unrelenting attacks by the guerillas and according to recent reports is now unusable by large ships. The airport is said to be under mortar and light automatic fire. The loss of these two avenues of supplies does not, however, make the position of the Pakistani troops hopeless. Light naval and river craft can run the gauntlet and get to Khulna and supply drops by aircraft and helicopter landing are always possible. If it is necessary to induct reinforcements into the area the dropping of paratroopers is always a possibility.
No matter what shape the future operations take there must be a firm operational base for the Pakistani forces, and that firm base in the area to the west of the be Madhumati can only Jessore. The Pakistani Army cannot therefore afford to abandon Jessore and carry on the struggle from some other place in the area. Quite apart from its strategic location, there is far too much in the form of logistical support being held at Jessore and its transfer elsewhere is not feasible. Should such a move be attempted it could be subjected to severe losses from Mukti Bahini ambushes.
It is therefore vital to Pakistan that Jessore be held. It is the jugular vein of the Pakistani forces in the area. Should Pakistan decide to abandon it, there may not be a Jessore town left standing as it is certain that the cantonment will subjected to a scorched earth policy to prevent the stores and munitions falling into the hands of the Mukti Bahini and the civil area will also receive its share of the treatment. Its capture will however be not only a great morale booster but also a major victory for the Mukti Bahini.
Reference: Hindustan Standard, 26.01.1972