The 1965 Indo-Pak war

[third eye]

In other words Pakistan is your largest concern at the moment, and therefore the concern that you plan for primarily, since you would be foolish planning for the 'smaller' and 'non-immediate threat' - hence all the rest of it about China being the primary concern is nothing but rhetoric.

Look , you can play with words as much as you wish to, the bottom line is that since Pk actively conspires to de stab India, it needs to be looked at NOW.

Others are not immenent but have the potential to clash with the larger game plan.. which Pk does / cannot.

 

[le_souriceau]

I think all words in this kind of "duels" must be proved by documents or, at least historical (non publicistic) books.

Everything else looks like child battle in sandbox.

 

[Zob]

@ Third eye

just cuz u lost a plane of the IAF close to the CHINESE border what does it have to signify....

we lost a plane close to the IRANIAN border a while ago it had taken off from quetta does that mean now our PRIMARY focus is IRAN... and not inda??

I maintain you lost the war, not India won it! And your capital was threatened imminently, timely diplomatic intervention saved you .....!!!

@hellfire

what makes you come 2 such a conclusion like i said to relase the pressure on Kashmir you crossed the International border in the punjab sector....we followed it up by opening up RAJHISTAN...as well as naval bombardment of DWARKA....


you also claimed that indian military was lagging.... my friend if you remember the famous pathankot assualt you had MIG-21s siting on the tarmac....for the time it was the SU30 of the day so i don't see how you can claim to be lagging & lagging in what kind of equipment....


62 you fought an enemy equal your size and lost in 65 you fought an enemy 1/6 your size....and couldn't defeat it COMPREHSIVELY....that my friend is really poor showing....so yes 65 was a stalemate and no one won

however, the fact that being 1/6 your size & being able to stand up to you till the last round is great showing & that cannot be overlooked!!

 

[Hellfire]

AgNoStIc MuSliM

Your arguments are getting convoluted to the point where you are contradicting yourself:

Absolutely not.

Statement 1: "So any general is not naive enough to plan such a large scale operation without expecting an attack."

Statement 2"Its not because India was attacker here, but you never expected a response in first place!"

The first statement is to drive in the point that a plan is made taking into view every eventuality ..... and the second to highlight the gross underestimation of Indian will to fight over Kashmir ......

both are not contradictory if taken along with subsequent points I have elucidated .... however isolated together yes they appear as such if taken purely at face value.


You argue that Pakistan 'lost the 65 war' because it did not achieve its political objectives.

Yes I do. Militarily it did perform remarkably well, but it lost the war purely on political grounds. Indian IPKF lost the war in Sri Lanka against LTTE in political sense too, and not in military terms. We had the resources, not the political will to continue. That is a defeat as surely as any irrespective of what my fellow posters might contend to contrary.

The same argument could be made about India in the 1948 war, given that Pakistani operations were defensive.

What were you defending? The tribals? At no point did India crossover the IB .... and well while I wont call it a loss, I will certainly call it a blunder as Nehru went to UN cutting short the military offensive. The political objectives given to IA at the time was to save Srinagar and secure the capital till a formal integration could be done under the aegis of UN ..... so not a loss as political objective was achieved .... but a shameful blunder at best in real sense .... something we are paying for till date.


India did not brandish the Instrument of accession indicating ownership and put its forces in just so it could control two thirds of kashmir - it went in planning to occupy and control all of it.

Instrument of Accession was signed to allow for conformity to Constitution of India for induction of IA in opinion of the self deluded PM of India of the time (now logic for that is as confounding to me as to you) .... why, I frankly do not know.

As such India failed in its 'political objective' - so while Pakistan did not win the war in 1948, India 'sure as hell lost it'.

No.

How on earth was the fight limited to Kashmir when your general's were planning on having "breakfast in Lahore"?

Initial phases of the campaign. Please do go through the chronology of events ....

The resulting defeat of that particular plan was, as you said, 'what a rude awakening from the delusions given out by foolish generals to a proud army of professional soldiers'

both sides have the same I agree.

How is that not indicative of an offensive directive rather than defensive?

The cross over of the IA was to ease the pressure at Akhnoor .... so defensive in nature ... also please do appreciate the fact that India was militarily in no position to fight anymore

The problem with your posts is as Kasrskin correctly observed, a tendency to constantly disparage Pakistan and its armed forces, while coming up with every excuse in the book to explain away Indian failures.

Right. Really. And the problem with your collective posts is to distort the history and show yourself as defenders and aggrieved fighting for a just (?) cause .... actually if you were to not distort those facts things would be much clearer ..... but then your history text books in school also tends to do the same, its an official policy I guess.

I have never said a word against Pakistani colodiers ... please do expand on where .... generalship and politicos, yes and am justified for same.


The Sikhs were 'shitting' and taken by surprise, it wasn't that the Pakistanis just fought better.

Oh the Rangers & PA whipped the *** off no doubts .... and it serves to highlight the success of Pakistani plans .... whereby acting upon hard info, the Indian Troops just thought it a hoax having failed to locate any troops and were lounging around .... if you cant appreciate the fact that such a level of stealth can only be achieved by tactical brilliance on part of PA officer and need it spelled out in bold, then shall do so next time on.

FYI I am of full awe for a young Pakistani SSG 2nd Lieutenant (1971) who along with 20 men infiltrated DCB near Pakka (Fazilka static defences) and beat up the Assam Regiment men manning the posts there and spared their lives, sent them back to HQ 67 Bde (Fazilka) and told them to retake the area if they could. As a result a whole Indian brigade (later supported by parts of the 15 Div it was under) was tied down and after 362 Indian killed and over 500 wounded, with no losses to the young SSG lieutenant, was tied down for the whole of war .... and only upon ceasefire did that young officer withdraw, writing a citation for an Indian Major killed by his machine gun fire who was the only Indian officer/soldier to reach the position at all ..... and handing it over to Indian officers before his withdrawl.

Oh please ..... you have fine soldiers and I can tell about many cases, tales told to me by relatives who witnessed such bravery that they thought none of the Indian soldiers under their command could also match ....

But I see that you guys cry foul when you are pointed out for your failures ....

You must have noticed I keep posting Battle of Islamgarh ... your major surrendered the fort there to one infantry unit of India ..... and there too only one cook from PA posted there .... was the only one who kept fighting and firing and eluded capture injuring 7 soldiers reaching safely to Pakistani troops located at other locations .....


Can go on and on ....... so atleast grant me that much that am not out Pakistan bashing as you all like to think every Indian likes to indulge in


have had lot of interactions with your officers and have great respect for them too..... in professional and personal aspects both .....

I stressed upon your political leadership being inept (like Indian was in 1962 and years upto it) so please dont cry foul over that ......


The IA was let down by Nehru in the UN, despite the fact that they had several months in which to overwhelm Pakistani defenses in 1948, and failed because of how the PA fought.


totally agreed



Your disparaging remarks are not limited to historical discussions - you did much the same when talking about Pakistan's COIN efforts in Swat for example, and automatically assumed that the PA was blowing up towns and cities willy nilly.

Please quote where I have said they are blowing up the towns ... I really want you to tell me ... will gladly and PUBLICLY apologise for the same


however discussing a rationale in purely intellectual term CAN NOT mean to say as beinmg a FACT ..... have maintained that the rational for heavy weapons is not there an intellectual exercise and NOT denounciations of your efforts ......

Have ENOUGH experience in the field sir to know what I am talking about ......!!! Enigma talks about every Tom Dick And Harry knowing what nuclear measures India has in place for protection ...... and I named just 2 guys .... of your army .... one's designation last held was also told he was also in UNSOM forces ..... and that info is not PUBLIC DOMAIN .......

I think there is a need on your part to recognize that the Pakistani Military, its generals, officers and soldiers, are a professional and competent institution who have largely done the best that could be done under the circumstances and limitations they have faced, as is the case with the Indian military.

I agree and I think you need to understand that anyone who criticises you is not necessarily your enemy ........

 

[Hellfire]

Sorry AM, I wrote this before you posted. I’d hate to delete it, but if hellfire continues then we’ll take it to another thread.



That’s fairly odd, you start off your reply with 'totally far from the truth' but then what follows, your own words, don't disagree or clash with my words that you’re supposedly refuting. Yes those wars were humiliating, which was what I said. I wouldn't say that India was 'in no shape' to fight a war because India had been modernizing military at a faster rate than Pakistan in the 50s, but obviously there were significant shortcomings that were remedied by the time India tried to invade in 1965. The point is the Indian military was in a much better shape, which is something you obviously agree with.



Again, my words and your contentions do not clash. It was indeed Pakistan's mistake in thinking that the Kashmiris were ready for liberation. It would take decades of Indian suppression and neglect before they would turn to Pakistan in the hopes of intervention. Yes, it was the Kashmiris themselves who failed act as hoped by Pakistan and identified the infiltrators themselves.

Was the political and military leadership naïve in not informing the formation commanders of the situation? Yes I believe so. This was an inexcusable mistake that cost Pakistan dearly, but without the benefit of hindsight it is understandable to an extent. GHQ did not appreciate the extent to which the Indians were itching to have a go at the PA, and thus expected that the Indians would prefer to keep the conflict localized. Kashmir was (and is) Disputed Territory and not a sovereign part of India or Pakistan, thus it was supposed that skirmishes in Kashmir would not immediately result it hostilities across the international border (it didn’t happen during the First Kashmir War). Secondly, it was also expected that an escalation that might lead to full scale conflict would take time to development, with clear diplomatic signals emulating from Delhi giving the Pakistani Army plenty of time to deploy. This obviously did not happen, and without a formal declaration of war or fair warning tens of thousands of Indian troops and armor launched themselves at Pakistan. Thirdly, Pakistan’s foreign minister at the time, Z.A. Bhutto was blustering hawk who proved utterly incapable of managing or monitoring the political situation next door. He did everything in his power to convince important figures and the nation at large that there was no danger. Lastly, the very nature of operation Grand Slam required a level of confidentiality which meant that the formation commanders, the military at large and civil population could not be told of the course being pursued and the risks (no matter how remote at first) involved.

A lot of mistakes and miscalculations all round, and ultimately the responsibility lay with Ayub Khan (who hired advisors like Bhutto). But these were the facts and Pakistan was unprepared. Even the Lahore Garrison commander was caught completely off guard.



That is nonsensical BS. The Indian Army Chief recommended the cease fire, the ceasefire was not ‘imposed’ on India. You’re not Israel, let’s stick to fact not fiction here shall we. By this time all Indian attempts at Lahore (and elsewhere) were exhausted. Now instead of going into a long description, I’ll save us all the time and ask you to demonstrate some credible proof regarding your imaginary claims. A lot of Pakistanis feel we could’ve taken on India too, and numerous Pakistani offensives were canceled as a direct result of American pressure. But since you’re so sure let’s see some impartial evidence…



You’re arguing over lame semantics and I don’t see the point of your arguments. Fine, we both lost the war. Happy? Call it whatever you want, but the most impartial way to put it is to call it a draw.



I can’t give you an official directive, but I can quote to you Brian Cloughley’s book History of the Pakistan Army which has been endorsed by an Indian Army chief. Destroying the Pakistan Army as a fighting force was the plan at the onset of the attack, as was the invasion of Lahore. As the fighting dragged on and hastily build Pakistani defenses didn’t give way, soaking up India resources and men, I’d presume Indian war-aims became considerably more modest. Cloughley clearly states “Although India’s immediate concern was to prevent Pakistan severing the link with the north, the aim of the their advance into ‘West’ Punjab was clear: to defeat the Pakistani Army”. There is more, but I don’t feel like quoting it. You best read the book.



Actually, the NAM has historically been considered pro-Soviet as opposed to pro-western. Their 'anti-Imperialism' leanings were routinely exploited by the USSR in the UN. So no, the Soviet supplies and spares were wide open to India.



No we didn’t get Kashmir, but you didn’t get Punjab either. Punjab is larger and you expended more lives and resources in the hopes of battering the Pakistan Army into submission there and acquiring the latter. So yup it was a draw. But you can go ahead and believe what you want…

P.S. Impartial commentators observe that the reason Pakistan won the Rann of Kutch was because of superior tactics, and little else. You can believe it was because of 'bad luck', etc but then dont pretend you're not looking at things in a biased way.

will get back to you once am done reading the book you have mentioned ...... am prepared to read your side too .


however .... rann of kucch was definitely your way .... and none can deny it ..... the exmaple i gave was meant to highlight the gross incompetency Indians showed


if you have any idea, then you may appreciate that Indian troops received info of PA and rangers moving in the area, this specific unit was tasked to sweep the area and they found nothing and were generally lounging around
and the rest is history

they were given a sound thumping

am sure you do read military history so you may be aware ..... but now I see that I do have to specify more clearly and will be done now on

also am sure you can appreciate the skills shown by the PA offocer in the theater at the time .... that troops were not detected .... and were instead able to give a good thump to indian troops there


but youhave to have the same clearly spelled out i guess will gladly do so now on

lastly, your info leaves at times a lot to be corrected ... even concerning IBGs and RAPIDs something that I had offered to discuss with you in depth ..... display of military professional as your status does not mean the other who is not in that category is totally a novice .......

thanks

 

[Hellfire]

Yes, our intelligence is quite frankly, pathetic.

And the leadership at that time was nothing to write home about. Had it been Indira Gandhi, maybe it would have been better.

what exactly did she achieve in 1971? Shimla agreement?

 

[Hellfire]

Something of Interest Maybe

The Battle for Ravi-Sutlej Corridor 1965 A Strategic and Operational Analysis
December 30, 2001

Major A.H. Amin, 11 PAVO Cavalry


The Indian attack on Lahore in particular and Ravi-Sutlej Corridor in general
has remained the subject of too much propaganda and too little analysis. On
Pakistani side the Battle for Lahore was seen as a superhuman effort while on
the Indian side it exposed many glaring weaknesses in the Indian Army at unit,
brigade, divisional and corps level.

On the other hand the total failure of the main Pakistani attack in Khem Karan
was ignored or forgotten in the smoke screen of glory created by official
propagandists who successfully shifted the entire public attention on laurels of
Aziz Bhatti etc. Thus, many glaring failures like surrender of an entire tank
regiment on Pakistani side in Khem Karan were overlooked. If Niranjan Parshad
was sacked on the Indian side no one realized that the Pakistani GOC 1st Armored Division survived unceremonious dismissal simply because he was close to the then army chief.
Unfortunately, instead of dispassionate analysis the Battle for Lahore or Ravi-Sutlej Corridor as one may call it was overclouded by tales of heroism at individual and unit level on the Pakistani side.On the Indian side, it led to various drastic changes in high command and re-thinking about unit employment.

After the war, Indian High Command spent a very large fortune on increasing
terrain friction by construction of spurs, bunds, drains etc to ensure that
something like a tank thrust against their strategic line of communication to
Kashmir and Amritsar may never again take place. In 1971, thus little activity
took place in Ravi-Sutlej Corridor and the emphasis shifted to area south of
Sutlej.

We will analyse the corps level battle in this article in the Ravi-Sutlej
Corridor in 1965 which involved a total force of some five infantry divisions
and one armored division and an independent armored brigade.

Orientation with the battle area

The Ravi-Sutlej Corridor from the point where the River Ravi finally enters
Pakistan near BRB Syphon north of Lahore till Kasur measures roughly 160,000
yards in frontage. The main Pakistani town Lahore, a place which had immense
strategic, political as well as psychological significance for Pakistan was
located just 29 kilometres from the border while the main Indian town Amritsar
was about 28 kilometres from the border.

Khem-Karan, a small Indian town which made many headlines in the first four days of the war lay about 60 kilometres south west of Amritsar and 5 kilometres to the border. Ravi, the
river comprising the northern boundary of the corridor was relatively smaller
than Sutlej, the river which formed the southern boundary of the corridor and
entered Pakistan in the Sejhra Bulge, going into India again for a few miles
into Hussainiwala Headworks before re-entering Pakistan again a few miles south
of Kasur, a small Pakistani town 5 kilometres from the border. Since there was
no natural boundary between India or Pakistan in this corridor, Pakistan had
constructed the BRBL (Bambanwalla Ravi Bedian Link) Canal which the Indians
referred to as Ichhogil Canal.

The BRBL canal ran from north to south from Ravi in the north till Sutlej in the south, after it entered the corridor passing through a siphon on the Ravi from Sialkot District. The canal was constructed in the 1950s with the exbrss purpose of serving as a defence obstacle against a possible Indian attack on Lahore. Its western banks were higher than its eastern
banks to provide good fields of fire and observation for the defender and lined
with bunkers. It was approximately five metres deep and 45 metres wide and was a
“complete water obstacle”, formidable in subcontinental terms where attack
across water obstacles was regarded as a formidable and extremely difficult
operation!1

The BRB running in a nearly ninety degree direction flows 5 to 14
kilometres from the Indian border. It has various branches which run from east
to west like the Lahore Branch, Kasur Branch. All these branches ran from
northeast to southwest and thus no cause of any ground friction for any
attacker advancing from east to west. The BRB crossed the GT Road at Dograi a
village located on its east bank. The other obstacles in the corridor were the
Hudiara Drain, Rohi Nala and the Nikasu Nala. The first two could be crossed
with minor engineer effort or recce while the third required greater engineer
effort.

Both Ravi and Sutlej were complete water obstacles with width varying
from 150 to 350 metres and were in near full flow in the season. The fields of
fire in the area were limited from 300 yards to 1200 yards and the area near the
canals, their branches and the nalas were boggy, limiting tank movement and
requiring careful reconnaissance. The main roads in the area were the GT Road
linking Lahore with Amritsar and onwards to Jullundhur and Ludhiana.
Lahore-Harike Road linking Lahore with Ferozepur-Ludhiana Road and the
Ferozpur Road linking Lahore with Ferozpur, after passing through Kasur and
crossing the Sutlej over the Hussainiwala Headworks near Ferozpur. The major
bridges from where the BRB could be crossed were at Dograi on the GT Road,
Bhaini, Malikpur, Bedian, Barki, Kasur etc. In addition, there were various
aquaducts and viaducts on the BRB. The area had thick vegetation trees etc and
various crops specially sugar cane severely limited fields of observation and
fire.

Indian Plan

The Indian war plan was finalized on 9th August 1965.2 The plan envisaged a
major attack in the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor employing 11 Corps (4 Mountain
Division, 7 Infantry Division and 15 Infantry Division) along three axis i.e 15
Infantry Division on Amritsar-Lahore axis, 7 Infantry Division on
Khalra-Barki-Lahore axis and 4 Mountain Division on Khem Karan-Kasur axis.

Each division had two brigades while their third brigade was held by the 11 Corps as
reserve or for other tasks. 29 Brigade (ex-7 Division) was directly under corps
headquarter and tasked to defend the area opposite the Dera Baba Nanak Enclave,
Dharm Enclave and the Jassar Bridge. The corps boundary of the 11 Corps extended
from Dera Baba Nanak (Included) some 56 Kilometre North of Amritsar in the
north till the north bank of Sutlej River in the south and onwards till
Ganganagar which was defended by 67 Infantry Brigade (three battalions)
supported by 4 Independent Squadron (Sherman-75mm).

The 2 Independent Armored Brigade was the corps reserve of 11 Corps. It consisted of 3rd Cavalry (Centurions) and 8th Light Cavalry (AMX-13). 15 Infantry Division had 14 Scinde
Horse (Shermans-76 mm), and 1st Skinners Horse (Shermans) an additional regiment
which was on move on 6th September 1965 from Benares to the frontline. This unit
joined the 15 Division only on 11th September. The 7th Division’s integral
armor unit was the 21 Central India Horse (Sherman-75mm) while the 4th Mountain
Division (less 33 Mountain Brigade deployed on Chinese border) had the 9
Deccan Horse (Sherman-76 mm). In addition after 6th September the 7th Light
Cavalry (PT-76) equipped with fully amphibious PT-76 tanks was moved to the
corps area with restrictions placed on the unit for utilization in only highly
sensitive missions because of conversion and armor vulnerability reasons since
the PT-76 was newly inducted and had very thin armor plates. This brigade also
had 1 Field Regiment (SP) and 1 Dogra (Lorry borne). In addition the corps also
had a reserve infantry brigade i.e 96 Infantry Brigade (three infantry units)
(ex-15 Division) initially placed at Tarn Taran.

The reader may note that Joginder Singh claims that at one point General
Harbaksh Singh had agreed to transfer 7 Division to 1 Indian Corps involved in
Operation Nepal opposite Chawinda but the decision was changed on Joginder’s
remonstrances to the Indian Army chief. This if done would have left a big gap
in between Indian 15 and 4 Mountain Division.3

Each Indian division had an organic artillery brigade known as divisional
artillery in Pakistan. In addition there was the 21 Independent Artillery
Brigade consisting of one medium and one heavy regiment.

In addition the 11 Corps was also given three other formations which were not in
its area of operations on 6th September 1965.These were 41 Mountain Brigade
(forced to move to Akhnur after Grand Slam), 50 Para Brigade which was on move
from Agra to 11 Corps area on 6th September and the 23 Mountain Division which
was initially Indian Army Reserve and did not arrive in the battle area and had
no influence on the conduct of operations till end of the war. The reader may
note that this formation was last ordered to concentrate in area Dera Baba Nanak
by 26th September 19654 while ceasefire took place on night 22/23rd September
1965.

In the strategic sense the prime Indian aim in 11 Corps area was to launch a
thrust at Pakistani vital centre of Lahore which would compel Pakistan to
“retain large portion of her reserves in that Sector”.5

Another major strategic benefit that the Indians visualised to derive from 11
Corps attack was ensuring defence of Indian territory in Ravi-Sutlej Corridor by
utilising the BRB as a water obstacle. The Indian planners had assessed that
with all territory from the border till BRBL in Indian hands the Indian
territory in Ravi-Sutlej Corridor was secure against any Pakistani attack. This
was so since no water obstacle like BRB was available with the Indians for the
defence of their side of the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor.

The reader may note that before the war if Joginder Singh the Chief of Staff
Western Command is to be believed some people (Harbaksh Singh) in the Indian
Higher Command regarded the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor as indefensible and were in
favour of taking a defensive position on the Beas River.6

In classical strategic terms the Indian 11 Corps attack was a “Thrust” defined
by Andre Beaufre as “Reach a vulnerable point in spite of opposition of the
enemy” and aimed at “Depriving the enemy of his freedom of action by wearing him
down”.7
In pure operational order terminology 11 Corps tasks were:—8

Advance to the Ichogil Canal (BRBL) along the axes GT Road, Bhikiwind-Khalra and
Bhikiwind-Khem Karan to capture Pakistani territory from opposite Ranian
inclusive to its junction with Dipalpur Canal opposite Hussainiwala inclusive
and capture intact:—

a. GT Road Bridge over Ichogil Canal.
b. GT/Jallo Link Road Bridge. Barki Bridge over Ichogil Canal.
c. Destroy any enemy which may enter the Punjab and Ganga Nagar Sector in
Rajhastan.
d. Simultaneously with point “a” above eliminate Bridgehead in the area
Dera Baba Nanak, and if possible capture the bridge intact.
e. Finally on completion of task “a”, be brpared to continue the advance to Lahore.

15 Division Plan

Translated into tangible terminology the above mentioned objectives were to be
acomplished by commencing the advance of 15 Infantry Division in two phases. In
Phase One commencing on night 5/6 September with two brigades and one task
force. 54 Infantry Brigade (three battalions) of this divison supported by a
tank squadron (14 Scinde Horse) and engineer field company was to advance along
GT Road after crossing the international border at 0400 Hours 6th September and
capture two bridges on BRB at Jallo and Dograi. Simultaneously, a battalion
group task force i.e 1 Jat (ex-38 Infantry Brigade) half tank squadron (14
Scinde Horse), engineer field company, under direct command of HQ 15 Division
were to capture road bridge in area Bhaini-Dhilwal. In the second phase not
before six hours after 0400 Hours 38 Infantry Brigade was to capture area
Bhasin and Dograich.

7 Division Plan

The 7 Infantry Division was also given a two phase plan. In Phase one, it was to
advance with one infantry brigade (48 Brigade) supported by tank squadron less
one troop (21 Central India Horse) advancing along axis Khalra-Barki capturing
Barki and securing the adjacent bridge over the Ichogil Canal (BRBL) by last
light 6th September. Simultaneously and independent task force directly under 7
Division Headquarter comprising 17 Rajput and one tank troop (21 Central India
Horse), supported by a regiment strength of artillery and a field company of
engineers was to cross the border at axis Wan-Bedian and secure Bedian by last
light 6th September. In Phase two, 65 Infantry Brigade was to carry out mopping
up operations along BRBL and also destroy all bridges on BRBL within 7 Division
area of responsibility.

4 Mountain Division Plan

4 Mountain Division comprising two infantry brigades and one tank regiment (9
Deccan Horse) was the southern most division of the advancing force. It was
tasked to secure Pakistani territory upto Ichhogil Canal which in this area was
just about 4 kilometres from the Indian border, destroying bridge over Ichhogil
Canal over road Khem Karan-Kasur and to occupy a defensive sector to contain
possible Pakistani offensive consisting of an armored division and two infantry
brigades. This division was also assigned the support of 2 Indian Independent
Armored Brigade on priority.
The reader may note that initially the Indian planners had correctly assessed
that Pakistani 1st Armored Division may be employed in this sector. However,
once Pakistan’s 7th Infantry Division the sister division of the 1st Armored
Division had moved into Gujrat area the Indian Intelligence equally incompetent
like their Pakistani counterparts had by September assessed that the Pakistani
1st Armored Division was in Wazirabad area!9

Thus the 11 Corps was in a relaxed mood and had no clue that the Pakistani 1st
Armored Division was dispersed in Changa Manga Forest area about to commence an
attack which in leading Indian military analyst Ravi Rikhyes word had the
potential to be India’s Fourth Battle of Panipat.

Pakistani Plan 10 Division Plan

The Pakistani plan in this corridor had two different dimensions. One was the
defence of Lahore the prime Pakistani defensive consideration. The second was
the main Pakistani attack originating from Kasur aimed at severing the entire
Indian 11 Corps line of communication. There were three Pakistani divisions in
the corridor. The 10 Division responsible for defence of Lahore from BRB Syphon
till Bedian in the south a frontage of approximately 60,000 yards.10 The newly
raised 11 Division responsible for defence of the area from Bedian till and
including Hussainiwala Headworks, a total frontage of some 100,000 yards11 in
gunner terminology!

The 10 Division had three infantry brigades, two of which were deployed in
defensive role and one along with a tank regiment (23 Cavalry), two infantry
battalions, a field artillery regiment in direct support and an R & S Company
was designated as the Division Strike Force responsible for
counterattacks.Before the war this brigade had been trained to carry out
counterattacks to destroy any enemy penetration west of BRBL. The reader may
note that 23 Cavalry had one M-47 Squadron while the remaining two squadrons
were equipped with Shermans.12 The TDU regiments were also equipped with
Shermans.

114 Brigade was responsible for defence of Ravi Syphon through Bhaini Bridge
till and including the main GT Road at Wagah. It had three infantry battalions,
an R & S Company less one platoon, a TDU tank squadron (30 TDU) and was directly
supported by a field artillery regiment. The main defensive positions of the
brigade were on the BRBL.

103 Brigade was responsible for defence of area excluding GT Road till Bedian.
It had two infantry battalions, a TDU tank squadron (30 TDU), an R & S Company
less a platoon, and a field artillery regiment in direct support.

The 10 Divisional artillery’s strong point and one which gave it a marked
advantage over the Indians, was in possession of 30 Heavy Regiment consisting of
latest US eight 155 mm guns and four 8 inch Howitzers. In addition, the
division had three medium regiments supporting three infantry brigades, a medium
regiment and two locating batteries.

11 Division Plan
The 11 Division was raised in 1965 around May 1965.13 It consisted of three
infantry brigades i.e 21 Brigade, (two battalions), 52 Brigade (three
battalions) and 106 Brigade (two battalions). In addition it had two tank regiments (15 Lancers and 32 TDU). The division had two roles i.e defending the line of BRB and also providing a bridgehead to the main Pakistani attack force i.e the 1st Armored Division. Its
artillery consisted of three field regiments, one mortar troop, one medium
regiment, one heavy regiment (eight 8 inch Howitzers and four 155 mm guns) and
most valuable, a corps locating regiment.

The dual operational task of the 11 Division was defence of Kasur, destroy enemy
advance on axis Ferozpur-Kasur and Khem Karan-Kasur, capture Pakistani side of
Hussainiwala enclave and destroy all enemy likely water crossings in the
divisional area. Its offensive role was to be brpared to secure a bridgehead
across the Rohi Nala for the 1st Armored Division. In this task the division
was to secure general line Patti-Harike inclusive of bridge over Harike and
Bhikkiwind on axis Lahore-Harike. In the Phase two, the division was to get the
5 Armored Brigade to capture Jandiala Guru Bridge over the Beas River.14
Conversely, if the GHQ decided to launch the whole of 1st Armored Division in
conjunction with 11 Division, 11 Division was then to provide a firm base to
facilitate operations of 1st Armored Division. In this eventuality the 5
Armored Brigade was to revert to under command 1st Armored Division.15
Lately, Major General Naseerullah Babar in an interview conducted by this scribe
for the Defence Journal claimed that the originator of this offensive plan was
Major General Altaf Qadir.16

1st Armored Division Plan

As per the initial war plans of the Pakistani GHQ Headquarter, 1 Corps was
supposed to control the operations of 8 Division, 15 Division, 10 Division, 11
Division and 1st Armored Division. Humanly speaking, this was an impossible
task and a tribute to Ayub and Musa’s grasp of strategic and organisational
depth or lack of it! Even the officially sponsored historian Shaukat Riza
admitted “nothing could be farther away from intention or capability of HQ 1
Corps” .17

The reader may, note that the 1st Armored Divisions prime task was to function
as a reserve for the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor along with 7 Infantry Division.
However, later on the 7 Division was diverted to Operation Grand Slam North of
Chenab River.18

The first armored division as it stood in 1965 was one of the finest armored
formations that the sub continent had seen till 1965. To be brcise in the words
of Gul Hassan the last C-in-C of the Pakistan Army and the then Director
Military Operations in 1965, the 1st Armored Division was the “best equipped
division that we fielded and far superior to any armor formation the Indians
had”19

In September 1965, the 1st Armored Division consisted of three armored
brigades (3rd, 4th and 5th) each with two tank regiments and one APC borne
(Armored Personnel Carrier) mechanised infantry battalions. In addition the
division had a recce regiment and the normal divisional artillery component of
three self propelled (tracked) artillery regiments, one medium regiment, one
self-propelled (tracked) Light Anti Aircraft Regiment. In addition there was the
usual component of engineer signal and other supporting arm and service
battalions.

On 1st September 1965, Headquarter 1 Corps still in command of 1st Armored
Division and still retaining some mental equilibrium which it was soon to lose
from 6th September 1965 issued its grand operational instruction to the 1st
Armored Division:—

“1st Armored Division on orders from GHQ was required to debouch from a
bridgehead provided by 11 Division and to cut Grand Trunk Road in area
Jullundhur”!20

In other words, 1 Corps Headquarter was assigning the 1st Armored Division an
objective some 100 miles inside India and one which required crossing of one
major river !

As per this instruction the 5 Armored Brigade was initially placed under
command 11 Division for establishment of bridgehead.21
The initial 1st Armored Division plan is illustrated on the adjoining map. It
envisaged an advance by 3rd Armored Brigade along Sobraon Branch to secure the
Beas Bridge, a distance of 60 miles, an advance by the 4 Armored Brigade along
Kasur Branch to Jandiala Guru on Grand Trunk Road east of Amritsar, a distance
of some 50 miles. 5 Armored Brigade was to revert to command of 1st Armored
Division in the breakout phase and act as reserve.22

If 1st Armored Division succeeded in accomplishing the above mentioned tasks
this would have meant that complete Indian 11 Corps was encircled and forced to
either surrender or withdraw northwards towards Pathankot. In the process the
Indians would have forced to sue for ceasefire and would have lost all territory
including crucial cities like Amritsar till the Beas River. This is why Ravi
Rikhye called it a possible fourth battle of Panipat for India.

Conduct of Battle

On 4th September at brcisely 2230 Hours the Pakistani GHQ sent a signal to all
formations which asked them to take “necessary defensive measures” against
India. War had not yet broken out but Pakistan had already launched an infantry
division/armored brigade size attack in Indian Held Kashmir from 1st September.The signal whose language was described by Shaukat Riza as “not peremptory”23
read as following:—

Pak Army DTE Sept 042230 E
Latest Intelligence reports indicate Indian concentration on both East and West
Pakistan and such flash announcements on All India Radio as QUOTE Pakistanis
attacking Jammu etc. UNQUOTE indicate their aggressive intention, formations
will take necessary defensive measures (.) All Informed.


Gul Hassan states that there was no ambiguity in this signal and that all
formations took immediate action on it barring 10 Division in Lahore. This in
view of Gul Hassan was a clear case of complacency.24


10 Division area

All that 10 Division did on receipt of the above mentioned signal was to warn
forward troops to exercise greater vigilance and ordered troops to move into
defensive positions on night 5th and 6th September.25 Gul’s assertion is
confirmed by Shaukat Riza who states that GOC 10 Division on 4th September
brushed aside Commander 114 Brigades suggestion to move into defences but later
relented and ordered move to defensive positions during night 5/6 September 1965
on the morning of 5th September.26
Shaukat did not give any reason in his book
in which he repeatedly praised Ayub and Musa as to why the Pakistan Army had so
non-military in the language of it signals while stating that the 10 Division
was not in full deployment because of the GHQ!27 Even the Indian armor
historian noted that “for some unaccountable reason the 114 Brigade was not in
its defences when the Indian attack came on the morning of 6th September “.28
The two forward brigades of the 10 Division were occupying their positions when
the Indian attack commenced at 0400 Hours 6th September 1965. 3 Jat the leading
battalion of the 54 Indian Brigade reached the BRB bridge near Dograi which had
been destroyed by the Pakistani defenders. The Indians claim that two companies
of this battalion crossed the BRB walking over the partially destroyed debris of
the bridge and occupied Batapur for sometime but were forced to withdraw since
the Indian 54 Brigade/15 Division did not reinforce it.29 The reader may note
that in this case the weakest link in the whole affair was not the Indian
soldier or 3 Jat but the Indian 54 Brigade Commander and GOC 15 Division who did
not respond to CO 3 Jat’s repeated requests for reinforcements! The claim of 3
Jat having crossed the BRBL, however, is denied by Major General Tajammul
Hussain Malik who was then defending that area as Commanding Officer 3rd
Baluch.30 In the final analysis 54 Brigade accomplished little except 3 Jat’s
singular accomplishment of contacting the BRBL opposite Batapur.
1 Jat Group similarly performed miserably. It failed to reach the BRBL and was
repulsed by the combined effect of artillery fire and left forward battalion of
the 114 Brigade. It panicked and dispersed back to the Indian side of the border
by mid-day.31 It was replaced by 6 Kumaon along with two tank troops which
deployed at Ranian.32

The 38 Infantry Brigade of the 15 Division also advanced very slowly at H + 6
and according to Harbaksh’s narrative had just advanced within 2000 yards of the
BRBL by 2200 Hours 6th September.33

By 1300 Hours 6th September GOC 15 Indian Division Niranjan Parshad reported
that the situation in his sector was serious on account of high casualties and
no further offensive action was possible! On hearing this report, Harbaksh Singh
accompanied by Commander 11 Corps personally visited 15 Division battle area and
found that “the situation had been grossly exaggerated and the fighting
potential of the formation were in no way impaired — only the GOC had failed to
measure upto certain local reverses, inevitable in any battle”. Harbaksh found
the GOC 15 Division “drained of all will and vision ...his attitude was
passively negative and there was the unmistakable air of the defeatist about
him. He stated his inability to undertake any further offensive action on the
plea that his formation had lost all capacity for operations”.34

On 7th September afternoon GOC 15 Division while on the way to visit 38 Brigade
towards Bhasin was ambushed35 by 18 Baluch. The GOC escaped but his jeep was
captured and is still retained by 18 Baluch (now 3 Sind) as a war trophy.
Harbaksh Singh sacked GOC 15 Division on 7th September and Major General
Mohinder Singh succeeded Niranjan Parshad as the new GOC 15 Division on night
7/8 September 1965.36

On night 7/8 September 38 Brigade based in Pul Kanjri area attempted to capture
Bhasin but failed. 54 Brigade on Jallo and Dograi villages with a battalion each
also failed on night 7/8 September.

Meanwhile, the Pakistani GOC 10 Division ordered a counterattack to put 15
Division on the defensive. The Divisional Strike Force 22 Brigade was given
orders to attack Indians east of BRB, something which they had not practiced in
br-war training manoeuvres. The 22 Brigade crossed the BRB at Maqboolpur Syphon
with 23 Cavalry leading, Brigadier Qayyum Sher37, captured area Bhaini by 0830
Hours 8th September and had cut the GT Road at Milestone 13 in Dograi area by
1330 Hours. This audacious counterattack threw the Indian 15 Division into utter
confusion. Harbaksh Singh states that two Indian units 13 Punjab and 15 Dogra in
Dograi area broke the line and abandoned their defences.38 The battalions were
later goaded, rallied and brought back to the defences. This forced 11 Indian
Corps to reinforce the area with their reserve brigade i.e 96 Infantry Brigade
which was now deployed immediately behind 54 Brigade in depth in the Hudiara
Drain area.

The 22 Brigade Force was too weak to stay in Dograi area. Therefore, it withdrew
back to the west bank of the BRB after executing their counter-attack.
On 10th September 1965, 1 Jat and 6 Kumaon again abandoned Ranian area39 in face
of alleged heavy artillery, tank and infantry small arms fire. This produced
another crisis in the 11 Corps. The right flank of the Indian 11 Corps was
exposed and Amritsar could be threatened from this direction. This produced an
operational crisis of magnanimous proportions in the 11 Indian Corps
Headquarter. To plug this gap, 96 Infantry Brigade was rushed forward to Ranian
area and its position at the Hudiara Drain as the reserve brigade was taken over
by the 50 Para Brigade.

Meanwhile, the 7 Indian Division performed better. It crossed the international
border at 0530 Hours 6th September with 48 Brigade in lead and secured the
Hudiara Drain defended by a company size advanced position by an outflanking
manoeuvre from the left. 65 Brigade commenced the advance from Hudiara Drain
onwards towards Barki and contaced the BRB opposite Barki which was held in
strength by elements of a unit of 103 Brigade. Barki defended by a company of
17 Punjab and a company of 12 Punjab was captured by the 7 Division employing
one battalion (4 Sikh) supported by Central India Horse less two squadrons on
night 10th/11th September. Major Aziz Bhatti who was later awarded the
Nishan-I-Haidar was the 17 Punjab Company Commander at Barki and survived this
action. He was killed by enemy shelling on 11th September on the west bank of
the BRBL the next day.40 The Indian Commanding Officer of Central India Horse Lt
Col Joshi who was leading from the front was mortally wounded once his jeep was
blown up by an anti-tank mine and died on 12th September.41

17 Rajput advanced successfully till the BRBL on 6th September 1965 but failed
to capture the Bedian bridge since the Pakistani battalion defending the area
inundated the area. Nothing significant took place in this sector till
ceasefire.

The last significant event which took place in the 10 Division area was the
recapture of Dograi by the Indians. Dograi on the east bank of the BRBL was
defended by the 16 Punjab. It was attacked by two infantry battalions supported
by a squadron plus of tanks and captured by a multi-directional night attack on
night 21/22 September 1965. The village had little strategic significance
specially when compared with the casualties suffered by both the attackers and
defenders who were involved in the Dograi battle.

11 Division area

4 Mountain Division attacked the 11 Division area on 6th September 1965. The
attack was on too wide a front and too diluted to make any impact. The Indians
were overconfident in this sector since they thought that Pakistan’s 1st
Armored Division was in Wazeirabad as earlier discussed. Ballanwalla a small
village and securing all area upto the east bank of the BRBL from area opposite
Rajoke till opposite Kasur was the main Indian objective in the area. The
Indians had planned a two brigade attack (they only had two brigades in this
division) with 7 Mountain Brigade (two battalions supported by a tank squadron)
going in the north and 62 Mountain Brigade (three battalions and a company
supported by a tank squadron), in the South while 1/9 Gurkha along with Deccan
Horse less two squadrons was the Divisional Reserve.

At mid-day Pakistan’s 52 Brigade mainly 7 Punjab supported by tanks and well
directed artillery fire launched a determined counterattack on the 62 Brigade.
Harbaksh Singh notes that “the 13 Dogra gave away and broke the line”.42 13
Dogra was the left forward attacking battalion of the 62 Brigade and its
bolting away disoriented the whole Indian attack. Similarly, the 7 Mountain
Brigade opposite Ballanwalla was thrown back by artillery fire and the small
arms fire of the 106 Brigade units. The Indian Armor historian claims that
“Pattons unexpectedly appeared east of the canal through a viaduct located 500
metres south of the road bridge”43 (Khem Karan-Kasur on the BRBL). However,
Shaukat Riza has made no mention about this either because of anti-armor bias
or because he wanted to unduly project the 52 Brigade.

K.C Praval notes that 9 Jammu and Kashmir right forward attacking battalion of
the 62 Mountain Brigade became so demoralized by the combined effect of 52
Brigade attack and artillery/tank fire that it retreated as far back as Valtoha!

Another significant affair in the 11 Division battle area was the moverment of
the 21 Brigade its reserve brigade. Initially, on 5th September the brigade was
ordered to be ready to move north and moved north towards Bhimbhar at 0430 Hours
6th September. Later the move was countermanded and the brigade reverted to
command 11 Division whose area it reached on around 0200 Hours 7th September!44


1st Armored Division/11 Division Attack

Since this article is devoted to the overall battle in Ravi-Sutlej Corridor the
1st Armored Division attack will be covered in brief.
At 1430 Hours 6th September, 2 FF (reserve battalion of 52 Brigade) was ordered
by 11 Division Headquarter to capture a bridgehead across the Rohi Nala by
first light 7th September. Similarly the 5 Armored Brigade which was placed
under command 11 Division on 5th September was ordered on 5th September to
secure “line Bhikkiwind-Patti as soon as possible”.45

The 2 FF launched its attack astride road Khem Karan-Kasur across the Rohi Nala
at 1930 Hours 6th September 1965 and by 2130 Hours secured a bridgehead across
the Rohi Nala.46 6 Lancers the leading regiment of 5 Armored Brigade was to
cross the Rohi Nala. The bridge over Rohi Nala was completed by 1130 Hours but
since its exit ramp was too steep the first tank of 6 Lancers crossed it at 1300
Hours 7th September.47 After one squadron of 6 Lancers had crossed the Rohi Nala
at 1600 hours one tank got stuck and blocked the Rohi Nala bridge. At this time
there were ten tanks across the Rohi Nala and about a company strength of 1 FF.
Colonel Sahibzad Gul, CO 6 Lancers made some forward movement putting some
Indians in front on the run shooting three Indian tanks and capturing about 25
prisoners.

1st Armored Division Attack

The 1st Armored Division was involved in the main battle from 6th September
when 5 Armored Brigade was placed under command 11 Division. The 5 Armored
Brigade attack was to commence at 0500 Hours on 7th September, however, it was
delayed to 1130 Hours because of delay in bridge construction on Rohi Nala which
was within Pakistani territory. Gul Hassan the then DMO later claimed in his
memoirs that a bridge was not required since the Rohi Nala was fordable but did
not explain what he had done as DMO to bring this point in any br-war planning
discussion ! By evening 1600 Hours only about a tank squadron strength of the 6
Lancers leading unit of 5 Armored Brigade had crossed the Rohi Nala since one
of its tanks had got stuck on the Rohi Nala Bridge. Thus 7th September was lost
with just ten tanks across the Rohi Nala. All this was happening at a time when
the situation in 4 Mountain Division as per Harbaksh Singh was so serious that
‘out of six battalions two and half had left the line and the remaining three
and half were under severe enemy brssure”. Harbaksh states that it was under
these circumstances that GOC 4 Mountain Division sought permission from GOC 11
Corps to withdraw and take a position at Assal Uttar in the rear.48

Harbaksh states that early in the morning of 8th September he received a
handwritten letter from GOC 11 Corps recommending that four infantry units i.e
18 Rajputana, 7 Grenadier, 9 J & K, AND 13 Dogra be disbanded and that another
infantry division should replace 4 Mountain Division.49

At this stage Harbaksh had no reserves and exhorted GOC 4 Mountain Division and
GOC 11 Corps to be more resolute.

While all this was happening Brig Bashir commander 5 Armored Brigade was
throwing to winds Pakistan’s armor superiority by dividing his brigade into two
directions with 24 Cavalry to advance along axis Khem Karan-Bhikiwind and 6
Lancers towards Valtoha Railway Station. 24 Cavalry contacted defences of 4
Mountain Division and tried to develop the situation from the west but failed
because of lack of infantry support and timely arrival of 3rd Cavalry
(Centurions) which reached the 4 Mountain Division area after mid-day. 6 Lancers
reached Valtoha Railway Station but was recalled after last light back to Khem
Karan by Brigadier Bashir to leaguer in line with the old British practice which
in this scenario was not required.50

By 9th September when the Pakistani armor once again commenced advance the
Indian armor was well poistioned with 3rd Cavalry Centurions plugging flanks
which could have enabled 5 Armored Brigade to get into rear of 4 Mountain
Divisioon 8th September. The critical time span was over. The ancient Greeks
used to say that the Goddess of Victory favours those who are bold. Boldness was
sadly missing in 5 Armored Brigade less Sahibzad Gul the only tank commander
who wanted to lead and fight from the front.

Thus once 5 Armored Brigade recommenced advance from its leaguers near Khem
Karan, 6 Lancers was greeted by Centurion fire of 3rd Cavalry while 24 Cavalry
also made nominal progress. To compound things further Sahibzad Gul the only man
in the whole senior lot was killed on 9th September near Valtoha.This
indomitable man was only given an SJ since he was not from the more pampered
regiments of the then Pakistan Army!

By 10th September the Indians were well poised to meet any outflanking
attack.They had taken a horse shoe position with about three tank regiments,
one in 4 Mountain Division defences, another less one squadron in Valtoha area
and the third and the most formidable in technical terms i.e the 3rd Cavalry
covering the western deep flank of the 4 Mountain Division.
Naseer now launched 4 Cavalry into this valley of death. The result was
catastrophic. 4 Cavalry got bogged down and was forced to surrender. The Indians
claimed that they captured all tanks of the unit, the Commanding Officer and 12
officers including six majors and several other ranks.51 Shaukat Riza states
that “some tank crew of 4 Cavalry trickled into HQ 4 Armored Brigade.They
reported that the regiment had been taken prisoner...at the end of the day 4
Cavalry reported 4 Officers and 25 Other Ranks missing and a total of ten
killed. Almost all the tanks had been lost”.52 The layman reader should not get
shocked.In tank warfare such things happen. In WW two an illustrious British
tank unit 8th Hussars along with 4 Armored Brigade was captured by the
Germans.53 The fault in 4 Cavalry fiasco was not of the unit but its CO and GOC
1st Armored Division.

Indian armor historian admits that 4 Cavalry fought well but ran out of fuel
because of poor planning and was caught in a well laid ambush.

Thus ended an offensive which had the potential to knock the Indian Army out of
the war. The 3rd Armored Brigade was never employed and from 11th September the
1st Armored Division less 5 Armored Brigade and 4 Cavalry which was totally
written off was despatched to Chawinda.

The Indians launched some very fool hardy frontal attacks on 11 Division from
11th September till 22nd September. All were repulsed since surprise had been
lost and defence keeping in view terrain and relative strength was the superior
form of war.

Analysis

Level of strategic success

On the strategic level the Indians failed in their prime aim i.e in compelling
Pakistan to “retain large portion of her reserves in that Sector” i.e
Ravi-Sutlej Corridor. The Pakistani 1st Armored Division successfully
disengaged from Khem Karan and was redeployed opposite Chawinda. The Pakistanis
thus defended Lahore successfully with existing formations except 5 Armored
Brigade whose one tank regiment (4 Cavalry) was completely lost, having been
captured by Indians while two (6 Lancers and 24 Cavalry) suffered serious
losses. Thus at ceasefire in strategic terms the Pakistani position opposite
Chawinda was far superior. It is another thing that Ayub and Musa lacked
strategic resolution to launch Operation Wind Up which had the potential of
bagging two Indian Infantry divisions in Chawinda area.

Element of Surprise

Both the sides started with the element of surprise, the Indians having achieved
surprise opposite Lahore and Pakistan having achieved complete strategic
surprise opposite Khem Karan. Ironically the Intelligence agencies of both sides
were a complete negation of the “Two Nation Theory” in terms of comparative
levels of ‘grey matter’, keeping in view the fact that both miserably failed to
detect the location of each other’s armored division till the last minute!
Employment of Armor

The conduct of 5 Armored Brigade on 7th, 8th and 9th September was the most
crucial aspect of the battle. Commander 5 Armored Brigade totally failed in his
job. His initial orders divided his brigade into three directions, with 6
Lancers going towards the right and 24 Cavalry going in the centre and left. Had
he kept his two tank regiments concentrated in any one direction with a squadron
on the main Khem Karan-Bhikiwind axis the Pakistanis would have outflanked the
4th Mountain Division on the 8th September. This would have enabled GOC 1st
Armored Division to pump in the 4th Armored Brigade to reinforce the success
of the 5th Armored Brigade with the 4th Armored Brigade while still retaining
3rd Armored Brigade for the final push to the Beas River Bridge. By 9th
September the Indians were well poised to defeat any outflanking move and the
“critical time span” i.e had run out for the Pakistanis.

In every battle, campaign and a war there are/is one or more period/s when one
side is greatly exposed to the risk of being decisively defeated, due to
material factors or psychological factors like perception of the opposing
commander that his cause is doomed, with the other side being possibly aware of
it or not.54 Superior decision making means the ability or talent to identify
the critical time span and seize it relentlessly! Brigadier Basheer failed in it
on 7th, 8th and 9th September! Alas, the truth in Schillers saying “what is lost
in a moment is lost for eternity”. The current of history now started moving in
the reverse direction and Pakistan Army paid a very heavy price for the failure
at Khem Karan six years later in 1971!

Chances of Strategic Success

At the strategic level the plan was excellent. It was in planning and at
operational level that it failed. Even Indian military writers like K.C Praval
admitted that the plan was “well conceived”...”that the advance throughout would
be along the grain of the country and no water obstacles would have to be
crossed”...and that “Pakistani armor had the capability for the thrust but the
plan failed due to inept execution”.55 Harbaksh Singh admitted that “it was a
simple but foolproof plan” and that “only the 4 Mountain Division stood in its
way”. Gurcharan Singh Sandhu the tank corps historian also admitted that “The
loss of any bridge over the Beas was expected to pose such a serious threat to
Delhi that the rest of the Indian Army would be forced to contain it rather than
make an attempt to rescue the stranded XI Corps”.56

In Clausewitzian terms the strategic plan decides “when, where and with what
forces” the battle is to be delivered.57 Again in the light of Clausewitz’s
teachings, one of the principal objects of strategy is “always to be strong,
first generally and then at the decisive point”.58 In this regard, strategy
placed at Naseer’s disposal an initial superiority at the decisive point of
about 7 to 1 but he failed to translate it into success because he and his 5
Armored Brigade Commander were incompetent and the men who handpicked them
based on personal likes were worse! After all Naseer was Musa’s handpicked
choice. The fault was not that he was a non-armor officer as Gul Hassan
fallaciously alleges but simply that Naseer was incompetent! After all, Ibrar
who did far better was also an infantry man. Rommel was an infantry man.
Macarthur, Lee and Meade were from Corps of Engineers!

The greatness of the German General Staff as this scribe stated in an article
written in 1994 was not that it produced a Manstein but that it discovered a
Manstein and allowed a Manstein to reach the highest ranks!59 It was here that
the Indo-Pak Armies failed. They are simply a conspiracy against originality and
boldness!

If successful the 1st Armored Division attack had great chances of
success. Indian GOC Western Command Harbaksh Singh frankly admitted that “A
Blitzkrieg deep into our territory towards the GT Road or the Beas Bridge would
have found us in a helpless position of a commander paralysed into inaction for
want of readily available reserves while the enemy was inexorably pushing deep
into his vitals.It is a nightmarish feeling even when considered into retrospect
at this stage.” 60

The BRB as the key to the battle

It may sound unheroic and unromantic but the BRBL proved the English Channel
that saved Pakistan’s strategic position in the crucial Ravi-Sutlej Corridor.
This man made obstacle severely restricted the Indian freedom of manoeuvre and
nullified their relative superiority in infantry. The canal acted as the anvil
vis-a-vis Pakistani artillery fire, tank fire and infantry small arms fire which
played the role of hammer which crushed the Indians inflicting heavy casualties
on them. Without BRB there is no doubt that nothing could have stopped the
indians from entering Lahore on 6th September. Similarly, without BRB the 1st
Armored Division could not have as easily disengaged from the Khem Karan battle
as it did. Conversely, the BRB also slowed down the induction of the 1st
Armored Division into the bridgehead but this was less because of the BRB and
more due to incompetence in Pakistani planners at GHQ (DMO), corps and
divisional level.

Musa admitted BRBL’s role, once he stated that Pakistani plan was based on
making use of the BRB canal which to a great extent compensated for disparity in
resources and enabled Pakistani formations in the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor to deploy
on “very extended frontages”. 61

Indecision,Vaccillation and Procrastination in the GHQ

The Pakistani GHQ particularly the Military Operations Directorate acted as
catalysts towards increased confusion. Their contradictory orders to a certain
extent retarded the pace of advance of the 1st Armored Division. Twice the GHQ
gave orders which created great doubt and confusion in the 1st Armored
Division. See the case of 3rd Armored Brigade. On 6th September it was told to
concentrate east of Zafarke by first light 7th September. The brigade carried
out the move successfully by 0600 Hours 7th September. The same day at 1400
Hours it was told to move to Lahore and at 1500 hours on the same day these
orders were cancelled!62 Imagine the state of mind of the brigade commander and
his commanding officers. On the second occasion, the 4 Armored Brigade was
ordered by the DMO to move to Daska in Ravi-Chenab Corridor at 1300 Hours 7th
September. While the brigade was brparing for the move it was cancelled the
same day at 1600 Hours. Naturally, GOC 1st Armored Division Naseer could not
have ordered these moves on his own. There were men higher up in the chain of
command who were not clear about many things connected with operational
strategy and generalship! 63

Lack of initiative at battalion, brigade and divisional level

There was a marked lack of initiative at the battalion, brigade and divisional
level. Lieutenant Colonel Ihsan ul Haq Malik who later rose to the rank of major
general and participated in the Khem Karan operations as the CO of the
indomitable 15 SP (it was a privilege for this scribe to have served in the
“Romeo Battery” of this fine unit after a disciplinary problem in 11 Cavalry
from 9th August 1984 till 10th October 1984) states that “senior officers were
conspicuously absent from the frontline in war. I saw a command post of one of
them in the rear areas. The bunker was a massive job.Only a direct hit by a 5
KT would disturb it!”64

Barring exceptions like Qayyum Sher who as earlier discussed led from the front.
GOC 1st Armored Division and Commander 5 Armored Brigade brferred staying
many miles away from the line of action! Brigadier Shami the Artillery Commander
was killed simply because in confusion of battle he was disoriented and
travelled too forward under the assumption that he was in territory held by own
troops. On the decisive 8th of September when the 1st Armored Division could
have achieved a breakthrough no officer of colonel level except Sahibzad Gul
was anywhere within 1000 yards of action! In a personal conversation with this
scribe Brigadier (then captain Asmat Beg Humayun) then GSO-3 of the 5 Armored
Brigade stated that Brigadier Bashir had pitched his headquarter in a rest house
many miles behind the actual scene of action.

Triumph of defence over offence

All battles were triumph of defence over offence. The attacker was stopped
whether it was the Indian opposite BRB or the Pakistani opposite Assal Uttar or
Valtoha. If one Pakistani tank unit stopped the Indian Armored Division
opposite Gadgor, one Indian tank unit and later one brigade stopped the
Pakistani Armored Division at Assal Uttar. If there was a Harbaksh Singh at
Assal Uttar prodding 4 Mountain Division to hold on there was an Abrar at
Chawinda reviving the spirits of the 6 Armored Division. There were historic
reasons for triumph of defence.The br-1947 Indian Army was primarily used by
the Britisher as a shield rather than a spear. While Indian Infantry dug in,
the main manoeuvres in North Africa were performed by the purely British
armored divisions. Burma was a different case altogether since in Burma the
Indian tank brigades overwhelmed the Japanese with a ratio of 100 to 10 in
qualitative and quantitative terms. Offensive action required
initiative,independent judgement, swiftness in decision making, all of which
were sadly missing in both the armies beyond tank troop level. Men like Sahibzad
Gul or Tarapur were solitary exceptions and that is why once they were killed in
action there was no one who could replace them. Excellence in decision-making
had not been institutionalised in both the armies and I dare say this is the
state till to date. A convincing proof being the latest Kargil affair!

Role of Artillery

Artillery played a decisive role in breaking many Indian attacks opposite Lahore
and Kasur, however, it lost its effectiveness when Pakistani armor was
distributed in too wide an area on the 8th of September. In the case of 1st
Armored Division offensive its role was severely mauled due to overemphasis on
secrecy. Ehsan then an artillery CO thus noted “In peace we had not even seen
the maps of this area.Nobody had ever thought that we could be committed in this
area for an ofensive task”.65 Ehsan further noted that such was the confusion
that “another artillery unit in our formation moved by rail. Understandably, it
never got to the required place in time”. Artillery was even ignored in award of
gallantry awards. Thus while infantry officers particularly belonging to Ayub’s
Punjab Regiment Group got the Lion’s share of gallantry awards artillery and
armor were the underdogs in receipt of gallantry awards. Thus Shaukat Riza
caustically albeit realistically noted “Three of our observers were killed while
bringing fire on the enemy. One captain stood up in his post to engage enemy
tanks with better effect. He was killed with a bullet in his right eye. After
ceasefire we recommended them for gallantry awards. None of them got anything.”
66

Organisational failures

One of the most serious failures which laid the foundation of Pakistani 1st
Armored Division’s failure was failure to have a higher command organisation to
control and coordinate the operations of the Pakistani infantry and armored
divisions. On the Indian side on the other hand the situation was to a great
extent since all Indian divisions in the corridor were controlled by a corps
headquarters. The responsibility for this failure can be laid squarely on the
shoulders of Ayub and Musa and to some extent on the then CGS and DMO.

Staff and Planning Failures

Ironically while all the blame for failure was heaped on the shoulders of GOC
1st Armored Division and Commander 5 Armored Brigade, the underlying and some
more serious failures were ignored. Starting from the top, the prime culprit in
the planning was the Military Operations Directorate. Planning for attacks which
decides the fate of a war at the strategic level cannot be relegated to
divisional headquarters. The Khem Karan Offensive plan was brpared many years
before the war started. Obstacles like Rohi Nala and the Nikasu Nala were
br-partition obstacles, the Nikasu Nala being so prominent that it was even
prominently marked on the maps of the Radclife Award Boundary Commission maps.
The fault lay not in the fact that the 1st Armored Division was launched in bad
terrain but in the fact that adequate brparations in planning were not made to
ensure that ground friction was reduced.

Compare this with another similar operation i.e the Inchon landing. The terrain and amphibious factors at Inchon were formidable. MacArthur’s own Chief of Staff Major General Almond described Inchon as the worst possible place to land!67 The reader may note that the water
channel from where the amphibious force of MacArthur had to approach could be
conveniently mined or simply blocked by a sunken or disabled vehicle. Thus, at
Inchon terrain did not favour a landing but the advantage of strategic surprise
were far greater than terrain odds.

The important fact which differentiated Inchon and Khem Karan was that the planners at Inchon took terrain as well as movement factors into account, thereby reducing terrain friction and the time and space required to concentrate while at Khem Karan the Pakistani planners
starting from the Military Operations Directorate,1 Corps Headquarter, 1st
Armored Division Headquarter down till brigade headquarters of the 1st Armored
Division did not plan meticulously for the move into bridgehead and for getting
out of the gap between Rohi Nala and Nikasu Nala as soon as they could. The
governing element in this whole situation was getting out of the Nikasu-Rohi
bottleneck so as to gain complete freedom of manoeuvre where Pakistani
superiority of nine to three in tank regiments could be fully exploited.

If BRB saved the Pakistani position in this corridor then the Rohi Nala and the Nikasu
Nala to a great extent saved the Indian position. Nothing in the instructions
passed to 1st Armored Division indicated that the Pakistani GHQ was even aware
of closeness of two obstacles within Pakistani territory i.e the Rohi Nala and
the BRB which could and did produce traffic jams which severely delayed the
induction of the 1st Armored Division into the bridgehead and enabled the
Indians to bring their independent armored brigade into the battle area before
the Pakistani 1st Armored Division had crossed the crucial Rohi-Nikasu Corridor
which was a serious operational bottleneck. It was not Nasir or Bashir who
failed but the whole staff system inherited from the British. Nasir and Bashir
were just tips of the iceberg! The British staff college at Cambrai in words of
Montgommery’s biographer Nigel Hamilton was an institution broccupied with
“hunting and socialising”! 68 A British officer who rose to considerable height
in the British Army in WW Two “ frankly ascribed his selection for staff duty to
having played golf regularly with a senior commander”!69

It was a failure of command as well as staff system where even the staff
officers on both sides were too slow for armored warfare and worked on yards
and furlongs rather than miles. Their orientation was position oriented rather
than mobility oriented and their idea of a battlefield was a typical linear
battlefield. Their Burma or North African experience where the Japanese and
Germans frequently appeared in their rear had made them extra sensitive about
their flanks. These were men who thought in terms of security rather than speed.
Conformity rather than unorthodox dynamism, having been trained in the slavish
colonial orders oriented. British Indian Army was the cardinal script of their
life. It was this British system in which every senior commander was more
interested in doing the job of those one step junior to him that led to the lack
of dash and initiative at brigade and battalion level. They were trained that
way and their behaviour as far as the timidity at brigade and divisional level
has to be taken in this context.

Analysis of Casualties

Contrary to popular imagination created by the propaganda that Chawinda was the
greatest battle since WW II it was in the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor that the Indians
suffered the maximum casualties.Thus, while the 1 Indian Corps which fought the
Battle of Chawinda suffered a total of 575 killed casualties, the Indian 15
Division opposite Lahore alone suffered some 486 killed casualties.70 Thus if
the casualties of all three Indian divisions and the independent brigade in 11
Corps area are combined, these far exceed those suffered by the 1 Corps which
fought the Battle of Chawinda.

Influence of Higher Headquarters on lower headquarters

In the case of Indian 4 Mountain Division the GOC 4 Mountain Division lost the
will to carry on as proved by Harbaksh’s narrative. In this case the situation
was restored by Harbaksh’s personal visit and exhortations to carry on. In the
final analysis 4 Mountain Division gradually regained its spirit and functioned
effectively in the defensive role.

Comparative Differences in the two armies

Many ridiculous myths were propagated in Pakistan about differences in the two
armies. Racially by and large both the armies were of the same stock. The
Pakistan Army bulk of which some 65% to 75% being Punjabis who were converted to
Islam in the period 1000-1600 or Pathans or Ranghars who were of Hindu Rajput
origin. On the other hand the bulk of the Indian Army was Punjabi or North
Indian again with Sikhs who were converted to Sikhism in the period from
1500-1800. The remaining larger portion of the Indian Army was Dogra (Punjabi
Hindu Rajput), Punjabi Hindu Jat, and some Madrasis, Kumaonis and Gurkhas.
Racially by and large the armies were alike. Where a unit did not do well had a
deeper connection with poor leadership at battalion, brigade or divisional
level. Units panicked on both sides, artillery fire had the same effect on both
sides and if one side had better guns it definitely gave it an advantage. Thus,
there was no major differences in both the armies at soldier to soldier level.

This fact was noted by some officers soon after 1965 but the majority were
victims of the psychosis of Islamic Martial Military superiority that
overwhelmed the West Pakistani psyche during the period 1966-1971! Brigadier A.R
Siddiqi in his book on the Pakistan Army’s brss image thus narrated a
thought-provoking incident soon after the war. Siddiqi met Brigadier Qayyum Sher
who as just discussed had distinguished himself as an infantry brigade commander
in the battle opposite Lahore. Qayyum Sher was unhappy about the unrealistic
expectations and myths that were being created as a result of the official
propaganda.

Qayyum Sher told Siddiqi, “Miracles’ he mused, ‘may indeed have
happened, but they happen only once. Let me tell you that your brss chaps are
doing a lot of harm to the soldier psychologically by publishing all those
foolish stories. I wonder what they are really trying to tell the world. That
the Pakistani soldier can fight his war only with the help of his celestial
allies. That he is facing an enemy inferior to him in all respects. I admit
God’s help is of the utmost importance but it’s no substitute for one’s own
performance. It would be quite stupid to forget that the Indian soldier is as
much of a professional as his Pakistani counterpart. He has been trained in
similar military systems and institutions and fights like hell when he has to.
The only reason why the Pakistani soldier put up a comparatively better
performance in this war was that he fought largely on his own home ground as a
defender”.

Siddiqi further noted that “The Pakistani image makers, however, had
little use for such sterile talk. They had their own mental picture of the war
and regarded it as the only correct one. Anybody who dared to speak of the war
more realistically simply betrayed a ‘diffident and defeatist mentality’ ...The
merest suggestion of the criticism of the military performance became a
taboo”.71 Sher was not alone in entertaining these views. Major General
Tajammul Hussain Malik who very ably commanded the 3rd Baluch opposite Lahore on
the BRB states in his memoirs that the Indian superiority opposite Lahore was
not as overwhelming as later portrayed in the Pakistani official propaganda.
Tajammul thus stated, “We had Patton Tanks whereas Indians had mostly Sherman
Tanks which were comparatively much inferior. Similarly our artillery guns out
ranged the Indian artillery guns. They had an overall superiority of infantry,
perhaps of about 1 to 2 but most of their divisions were comparatively
ill-equipped and untrained and they had to guard a much bigger frontier”. 72

Conclusion

The battles fought in the Ravi-Sutlej Corridor are fit to be subject of a
Shakespearian comedy of errors. On a more serious note Pakistan Army lost its
last chance to force a military solution on the Indians. It failed not because
failure was inevitable but because seeds of failure were sown once soldiering
was mixed with politics, merit was sidelined and men of limited grey matter were
elevated to the highest ranks. After 1965 the current of history started flowing
against Pakistan and its full results came into light only in December 1971.
There was logic in Bhutto and his hawk’s position that Pakistan had the
potential to knock India out in a swift war like the Israelis did in 1956 and
1967. Unfortunately, Pakistan failed not because of material reasons but because
of qualitative reasons. The finest steel goes through the hottest fire. This
unfortunately was not the case with the Pakistan Army of 1965 in terms of higher

leadership.



Notes

1 Gul Hassan the then Pakistani Director Military Operations (DMO) from 1961 to
1965 stated in his memoirs that all Pakistani planning was based on the fact
that “both sides would refrain from undertaking a crossing over a major water
obstacle at the outset of operations”. See Page-173-Memoirs of General Gul
Hassan Khan-Oxford University brss-Karachi-1993. The Indians similarly were
equally timid and Harbaksh Singh the GOC Western Command noted that the Indian
GHQ was also hesitant in attempting to cross a major water obstacle even within
Indian territory which was close to the border. See Page-16 & 17-War
Despatches-Lieut Gen Harbaksh Singh-Lancer International-New Delhi-1991. The
reason for this was hesitation in taking any risk and in being unconventional,
the cardinal common trait in both Indian and Pakistan Army’s higher leadership
since the Indians commissioned in the br-1947 British Indian Army in any case
were not trained to go beyond company or platoon commander level. The WW II
changed everything and speeded up the process of transfer of power!

2Page-18-War Despatches-Op Cit.

3Page-132 & 133- Behind the Scene-An Analysis of India’s Military
Operations-1947-71- Major General Joginder Singh-Lancer International-New
Delhi-1993.

4Pages-122 & 127-Ibid.

5Page-15-War Despatches-Op Cit. Harbaksh Singh had visualised that a major
attack in Ravi-Sutlej Corridor with 11 Corps would force Pakistan to retain a
large proportion of her reserves in Lahore Sector and resultantly minimise the
opposition againt the Main Indian Attack in Ravi-Chenab Corridor opposite
Chawinda.

6Page-134-Joginder Singh-Op Cit- The reader is advised to read Joginder’s book
with a pinch of salt. It was published after publication of Harbaksh’s War
Despatches and was more of a rejoinder than a detached analysis of the war.
Joginder was Harbaksh’s Chief of Staff in the war and it appears that Harbaksh
was tough with Joginder. Joginder retired in the same rank soon after the war
while Harbaksh the most deserving candidate for Indian Army Chief was not
promoted since he was a Punjabi Sikh. It is hard to believe Joginder’s
unsubstantiated assertion that Harbaksh a staunch Sikh would advocate taking
position behind the Beas abandoning holy places like the Sikh Vatican City i.e
Amritsar.

7Page-38-An Introduction to Strategy-General Andre Beaufre-Faber and
Faber-London-1965.

8Page-18-War Despatches-Op Cit.

9Page-365-The Indian Armored Corps-History of the Indian Armored
Corps-1940-71-Major General Gurcharan Singh Sandhu-Vision Books-New Delhi-1991.

10Page-189-The Pakistan Army-War-1965-Major General Shaukat Riza-Army Education
brss-1984.

11Page-215-Ibid.

12Page-189-Ibid.

13Page-211-Ibid.

14Pages-213 and 214 -Ibid.

15Page-215-Ibid.

16Page-10-” Remembering our Warriors” series-Interview of Major General
Naseerullah Khan Babar (Retired), SJ and Bar conducted by A.H Amin - Defence
Journal-April 2001 Issue-Pathfinder Fountain -Clifton Karachi-2001. The reader
may note that General Babar avoids self- publicity and propaganda.He agreed to
an interview on the personal request of Mr Ikram Sehgal who had served with him
in the Corps of Aviation in the period 1968-71.

17Page-215-Ibid.

18Page-76-Gul Hassan Khan -Op Cit.

19Page-200-Gul Hassan Khan-Op Cit.

20Page-235-Shaukat Raza-Op Cit.

21Ibid.

22Pages 235 & 236-Ibid.

23Page-135 & 135-Ibid.

24Page-189-Gul Hassan Khan-Op Cit.

25Ibid.

26Pages-192 & 193-Shaukat Riza-Op Cit.

27Pages-191 & 192-Ibid.

28Page-355-History of The Indian Armored Corps -Op Cit.

29 Page-90-War Despatches-Op Cit and Page-268-The Indian Army Since
Independence-Major K.C Praval-Lancer International-New Delhi-1993.

30Pages-52, 53 & 54-Story of My Struggle-Major General Tajammul Hussain
Malik-`Jang Publishers-Lahore-1991.

31Page-356-History of the Indian Armored Corps-Op Cit.

32 Ibid.

33Page-92-War Despatches-Op Cit.

34Ibid.

35Page-356-History of the Indian Armored Corps-Op Cit.

36 Page-92 -War Despatches-Op Cit.

37 Page-203-Shaukat Riza-Op Cit.

38 Page-94-War Despatches-Op Cit.

39 Ibid.

40Page-202-Shaukat Riza-Op Cit.Harbaksh claims that Bhatti was killed on the
east bank of BRB (page-96-War Despatches-Op Cit) but Shaukat states that Bhatti
was killed by enemy tanks shooting from across the BRB Canal (Page-202-Shaukat
Riza-Op Cit).

41Page-362-History of the Indian Armored Corps-Op Cit.

42 Page-99-War Despatches-Op Cit.

43Page-366-History of the Indian Armored Corps-Op Cit.

44Pages-218 and 219-Shaukat Riza-Op Cit.

45Page-224-Ibid.

46Pages-221 & 222-Ibid.

47Page-227-Ibid.

48Page-100-Harbaksh Singh-Op Cit.

49Pages-100 & 101-Ibid.

50We shall discuss the leaguer concept which seriously jeopardised the success
of Pakistani armor operations in Khem Karan. The British, mostly withdrew from
the final battle positions in North Africa because they feared the German 88
Anti-Tank Guns and wanted to have a peaceful next morning. In any case the
operational situation in North Africa was not area oriented, as in Punjab, but
mobility oriented since any outflanked force could easily move in any direction
and regain its equilibrium. In Punjab where defence was a relatively far more
superior type of warfare than in the desert and holding every inch of captured
territory was important, the operational situation was totally different from
North Africa. Here every locality once captured had to be held since manoeuvre
was far more difficult due to heavy terrain, friction and large number of
artificial and natural obstacles and bottlenecks. This was a serious doctrinal
failing which should have been resolved in the School of Armor. No one gave it
a serious thought since it was thought that the Pattons were invincible. These
pedants failed to realise that the British repeatedly failed to defeat Rommel
despite possessing numerical and qualitative superiority as was admitted by
Captain B.H Liddell Hart.

51Page-109-Harbaksh Singh-Op Cit.

52Page-245-Shaukat Riza-Op Cit.

53Page-220- The Sidi Rezeg Battles 1941- J.A.I Agar Hamilton and L.F.C
Turner-0xford University brss-Cape Town-1957

54Page-33- Plain as well as Subtle aspects of Military Decision-Making- A.H
Amin-Citadel Magazine-Issue-1/94-Command and Staff College Quetta-1994-Term
coined and defined by this scribe.

55Page-278 & 279-Maj K.C Praval-Op Cit.

56Page-371-History of the Indian Armored Corps-Op Cit.

57Page-174-On War-Carl Von Clausewitz-Edited by Anatol Rapoport-Pelican
Books-London-1974.

58Page-276-Ibid.

59Page-35-Plain as well as Subtle Aspects of Military Decision Making-Op Cit.

60Page-161-Harbaksh Singh-Op Cit.

61Page-23-My Version-Indo Pakistan War 1965-General Musa-Wajid Alis-Lahore-1983.

62Page-237-Shaukat Riza-Op Cit.

63Ibid.

64Page-24-Observations of an Artillery Commander-Major General Ihsan ul Haq
Malik (Retired)-Defence Journal-Volume One-Number -8-1975-Karachi.

65Page-22-Ibid.

66Page-20-Article-Back to Square One-Major General Shaukat Riza- Defence
Journal-Volume One-Number -8-1975-Karachi.

67Page-24-Hell or High Water-MacArthurs landing at Inchon-Walt Sheldon-Macmillan
and Company-Newyork-1968 and Pages 19 to 23 and Pages-186 & 187-Victory at High
Tide-The Inchon Seoul Campaign-Robert.D.Heinl Junior-J.B Lippincott
Co-Philadelphia-1968.

68Page-151-Monty-The Making of a General-1887-1942-London-Hamilton Books-1981.

69Footnote-25-Page-87-Op Cit-Sidi Rezeg Battles-Op Cit.

70Page-404,405 & 409-Major K.C Praval-Op Cit .

71Pages-108 & 109-The Military in Pakistan-Myth and Reality-Brig A.R
Siddiqi-Vanguard-Lahore-1996.

72Footnote on page-78-General Tajammul-Op Cit.



The Battle


I can furtherelaboratequoting your own officers ..... about the1965 war and how it was Pakistani creation and that the PA was infact ordered to be prepared for Indian attacks across IB .....

It servesto highlight the point that I have made, that the attack was made by India to ease pressure on akhnoor where there was definitely a serious situation .... and that the aim was to deny PA the momentum there by tying up troops further south ....


further quotes will be coming quoting your own officers involved.

AM you have attacked me for criticising PA .... well this is not the case. Have always criticised the leadership given,same for Indian side too. I really dont care to mince words about brave soldiers being led by complete idiots.

Distortion of facts was not done by me.....

 

[Hellfire]

one more

quoting your own officer

The Fighter Gap - 1

 

[AgNoStiC MuSliM]

Good - plenty to read.

Lets keep it this way - academic.

However, avoid posting too many articles at the same time lest any discussion get drowned out in a deluge of articles and cut and pastes, and please post a summary of the conclusions you draw (if any) from whatever you are providing a link/excerpt to, to make things clearer.

 

[Kasrkin]

lastly, your info leaves at times a lot to be corrected ... even concerning IBGs and RAPIDs something that I had offered to discuss with you in depth ..... display of military professional as your status does not mean the other who is not in that category is totally a novice .......

Yes we still need to talk about that matter. I am fully aware what IBGs and what RAPIDs are and what roles they might play in a future Indo-Pak war. You should suggest that I don't know something when we're talking about it so I can correct your own misconceptions or your misconceptions about my knowledge. Do tell me what you make of the book and do read AM’s suggestion Crossed Swords as well, the latter being a little more detailed, and both have healthy criticisms of both sides.

 

[Hellfire]

Yes we still need to talk about that matter. I am fully aware what IBGs and what RAPIDs are and what roles they might play in a future Indo-Pak war. You should suggest that I don't know something when we're talking about it so I can correct your own misconceptions or your misconceptions about my knowledge. Do tell me what you make of the book and do read AM’s suggestion Crossed Swords as well, the latter being a little more detailed, and both have healthy criticisms of both sides.

shall definitely PM you when am done with the two books ..... and get back to you ..


The first IBG formation is being placed now .... 21 Corps Bhopal .......


thanks

 

[Hellfire]

Good - plenty to read.

Lets keep it this way - academic.

However, avoid posting too many articles at the same time lest any discussion get drowned out in a deluge of articles and cut and pastes, and please post a summary of the conclusions you draw (if any) from whatever you are providing a link/excerpt to, to make things clearer.

sure....

the whole cut, copy paste was to ward off anothernew entrant makingme revert to original contention ... wont be done .... shall get back to you after having read the book you suggested.....

infact had read a very good work by some Pakistani General (the cover page had a knocked out(?) tnak a few years back ..... which led me to the conclusion that both sides were rather sparring strangely ..... the political objective angle I have as my opinion for both 65war and IPKF intervention in SL ......!

thanks

 

[Kamakazi 69]

India had a much larger air force, but the PAF had the qualitative edge over them.
Oh and never believe the New York Times, they are more immature and moronic in their observations than Geo t.v.

 

[Shiji]

Lieutenant General Harbaskhsh Singh Writes:
"By about 1430 hours, 13 Dogra in Area 45r (Rohiwal) was attacked by some infantry and Armour after and intense artillery bombardment. The unit game way and broke the the line. The remnants of the battalion was collected in the rear and ordered to occupy a defensive position in Area Mianwala................The Commanding Officer and one company of the unit withdrew without permission, leaving the rest of the battalion to its fates."
On another The General writes:
" Massive Pakistan reaction had created a grave situation..... It was evident that enemy Pattons had succeeded in infiltrating during the night. They were threatening to by-pass the Division's firm base and assault its gun area; a tactical withdrawal was the only answer. He, therefore decided to withdraw the Division and occupy positions north of Khem-Karan in the general area Asal Uttar-Bhura Kuhna-Chim"
All these accounts are from the Khem-Karan Sector.

 

[Hellfire]

Lieutenant General Harbaskhsh Singh Writes:
"By about 1430 hours, 13 Dogra in Area 45r (Rohiwal) was attacked by some infantry and Armour after and intense artillery bombardment. The unit game way and broke the the line. The remnants of the battalion was collected in the rear and ordered to occupy a defensive position in Area Mianwala................The Commanding Officer and one company of the unit withdrew without permission, leaving the rest of the battalion to its fates."
On another The General writes:
" Massive Pakistan reaction had created a grave situation..... It was evident that enemy Pattons had succeeded in infiltrating during the night. They were threatening to by-pass the Division's firm base and assault its gun area; a tactical withdrawal was the only answer. He, therefore decided to withdraw the Division and occupy positions north of Khem-Karan in the general area Asal Uttar-Bhura Kuhna-Chim"
All these accounts are from the Khem-Karan Sector.

the point being?