| Summary/Abstract |
Soon after Lt Gen. A.A.K. Niazi surrendered to Lt Gen. J.S. Aurora on 16 December 1971, the Indian Navy (IN) was tasked to prepare Bangladesh ports for resumption of seaborne traffic, including clearing their approaches. The Mukti Bahini was known to have laid influence mines across the entrance to Pussur River (leading to Chalna and Khulna), while interrogation of Prisoners of War (POWs) revealed that the Pakistan Navy (PN) had laid 94 moored contact mines in the approaches to Chittagong. IN ships Cannanore (a coastal minesweeper), Bulsar and Bhatkal (both inshore minesweepers) began their task on 18 January 1972. This marks the only time that the IN has carried out minesweeping under operational conditions. Given IN aspirations for sea control, it would be wise to factor in the lessons from this experience.
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