New Delhi, Jan. 13: Lt Gen Jacob Farj Rafael Jacob, best known for crafting the surrender at Dhaka by the Pakistan army, died in New Delhi this morning. He was 93.

Lt Gen. J.F.R. Jacob, "Jakes" to his friends and then a major general, was the chief of staff of India's Eastern Command headquartered in Fort William.

His immediate superior was Lt Gen. Jagjit Singh Aurora who accepted the surrender document from Niazi in what is probably the Pakistan army's most humiliating moment.

In his autobiography and many interviews, Jacob claimed that he defied then Chief of Army Staff (later Field Marshal) Gen. S.H.F.J. Manekshaw to orchestrate a dash to Dhaka by Indian forces from at least three directions. He also sold Niazi a ruse that Dhaka was surrounded by Indian forces from all sides when that was, in fact, yet to be.

A Baghdadi Jew, Jacob was later governor of Goa and also of Punjab. He was feted by Israel but always said he wanted to die in India.

A Second World War veteran, he also fought in the 1965 India-Pakistan war.

"I have no doubt that everyone who has been part of this journey of 'India-Israel relations' will continue to cherish Gen. Jacob and his invaluable contribution for the making and developing Indo-Israel relationship. Rest in Peace JFR Jacob, an Indian war hero, a proud Jew and a great friend of Israel," Israel's ambassador to India Daniel Carmon said in a statement.

By engineering the public surrender at Dhaka at the Ramna Race Course grounds, Jacob was one of the functionaries instrumental in the birth of Bangladesh.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted today that he had met the general many times. Defence minister Manohar Parrikar recalled his many meetings with Jacob when he was chief minister of Goa.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said: "The country stands proud of his life, work and service to the nation as a soldier and patriot. A brave son of India, his role in the Bangladesh liberation war has a special place in the war history of the world."