India-Pakistan War-1965: From Gibralter to Tashkent

Col. Alok Mathur, SM, (Retired)

After the Sino-India War of 1962, Pakistan think tanks concluded that military solution to Kashmir was a possibility as they were equipped with modern American Weapons like M 47/48 Patton tanks, F86 Sabre and F104 Star Fighter aircrafts that had been given to them under the Mutual Defence Assistance agreement with United States through the South East Asia Treaty Organisation, in 1954. Lal Bahadur Shastri was sworn in as second Prime Minister of India in 1964 after sudden demise of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru.

General Ayub Khan had taken over as President of Pakistan in 1958 after toppling Iskander Mirza. He provided Air/Logistics bases to United States for spy missions against the Soviet Union. New untested leadership in India, American support and proximity to the Chinese, motivated Pakistan to launch a campaign against a weakened India struggling to recover from the debacle suffered in the n hands of the Chinese. The objective was to annex Kashmir under the garb of a local uprising.

The Operation was planned in three phases. Phase 1 was to undertake low level operation in Rann of Kutch to test Indian willingness and capability to react. Phase 2 was to infiltrate Razakars columns under command of Pakistani military offices in to Jammu Kashmir. These columns were to indulge in arson and trigger an anti-India uprising. Phase 3 was launch of a major offensive towards Akhnoor bridge on the Chenab River through Chamb-Jaurian and threaten Jammu.

India was also gradually upgrading its Armed Forces. Defence Minister Krishna Menon was sacked by Pandit Nehru and Yashwant Rao Chavan was selected as New Defence Minister. Army Chief General P N Thapar resigned. Lt Gen B M Kaul, 4 Corps commander proceeded on premature retirement. General Jayant Nath Choudhary was appointed as Chief of Army Staff (COAS). The new command structure of Indian Army in 1965 was divided in to four Commands.

• Western Command with an Area of Responsibility (AOR) stretching from Ladakh to Kashmir, Jammu, Punjab, Rajasthan and Gujrat. Lt. General Harbaksh Singh, Vrc was the Army Commander.
• Central Command with an AOR including Uttar Pradesh to Bihar. Lt. General K Bahadur Singh was the Army Commander.
• Eastern Command under Lt. General SHJF Manekshaw, MC with AOR covering the entire North-East including Sikkim, Bengal, NEFA, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and also Orissa.
• Southern Command, commanded by Lt. General Moti Sagar with AOR as all southern states and Islands in the Indian Ocean.
• There was no Northern Command in 1965. Indian had procured Centurian Mk Vll Tanks, Folland, Gnats and Hawker Hunters fighter aircraft from Britain and Dassault Mysteres V aircrafts from France. India had also raised fresh divisions new divisions.

In Phase 1, Pakistan’s 8 Infantry Division attacked under General Tikka Khan, with two Infantry brigades in Northern part of Rann of Kutch and captured two Indian Police Posts of Sardar and Kanjrakot on 7 April 1965. It also isolated Vigokot, Biar-bet and Chand-bet posts. 31 Infantry Brigade of the Indian Army was moved from Ahmadabad to reinforce the area. Kilo force was raised after assessment of threat. 50 Para Brigade also was moved. By 23 April, India recovered most of the area lost to Pakistan. The hostilities finally ended on 1 July 1965 due to British mediation.

Infiltration of Pakistani Mercenaries – Operation Gibralter

The Code Name for Phase 2 was “Operation Gibraltor” under which six self-contained battalion strength groups were inducted in the first week of August in Jammu Kashmir. They were called as Tariq force to operate in Kargil, Sonamarg area; Qasim Force for Chowkibal , Keran area; Khalid force for Handwara, Tithwal area; Salahuddin Force to operate in Gulmarg , Baramulah; Ghaznavi Force for Mendhar, Rajoari, Naushera and Babur Force for Udhampur, Ramban area.

India raised Sri Force to deal with these intrusions. The Pakistani’s failed to garner local support. Civilians reported the intrusions immediately to Army and most columns were identified, killed and disintegrated and returned to bases behind the Ceasefire Line (CFL).

15 Corps then evolved an offensive plan to capture Uri Punch Bulge. Operation Bakshi and Operation Faulad was launched from North and South. Major R S Dyal, second-in-command, 1 Para with his task force captured Haji Pir pass at 1100h on 27 August 1965 which was held till end of the war. He was awarded Mahavir Chakra.

Pakistan, frustrated by India’s strong retaliatory action, launched Phase 3 called Operation Grand Slam on 1 September 1965, through Chamb- Jaurian defences across Manawar Tawi with a Division and two Armoured Regiments. Its objective was to capture Akhnur and Jammu and cut off the communication line to the Kashmir Valley.

General Harbaksh Singh assessing the critical situation approached COAS for permission to launch counter offensive in Punjab and Rajasthan. COAS immediately contacted the Defence Minister for clearance. Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri cleared the offensive within 6 hours and gave a free hand to Army. The Indian strike corps was released towards Sialkot and 11 Corps troops headed for Lahore.

The Indian offensive was spearheaded by 1 Armoured Division. The largest tank battle, after second World War, was fought in Phillora – Wazira Wali area in the Shakargarh bulge. Indian tanks penetrated deep inside Pakistan and reached Batapur, across the Ichogil Canal just 5 Kms from Lahore. A graveyard of Patton Tanks was created by Indian Armoured Brigade and IAF at Valtoha on Bhikiwind- Khemkaran axis. Pakistan was compelled to withdraw from Akhnoor and concentrate to ward of the Indian threat in the plains.

Pakistan approached the UN for ceasefire. India announced ceasefire on 23 September 1965. Ayub Khan’s dream was shattered. Tashkent Agreement mediated by Soviet Union was signed on 10 January 1966 between two heads of states of Indian and Pakistan, India returned all occupied territory including Haji Pir, which was a blunder. Lal Bahadur Shastri died in Tashkent, now in Uzbekistan on, 11 January 1966 under mysterious circumstances.

Indian Soldiers Celebrating on a Captured Pakistani Patton Tank

The war effort was marked by many stories of valour and grant of gallantry awards. The most prominent was Lt Col Ardeshir Burzorji Tarapore, 17 Horse, PVC (Posthumous) and Company Quarter Master Havildar Abdul Hamid , 4 Grenadiers ,PVC (Posthumous)

Lt Col A B Tarapore was the commanding officer of Poona Horse during the war. The Poona Horse equipped with Centurian tanks was the leading Regiment of 1 Armoured Division and was tasked to capture Phillora from rear on 11 September.The regiment was advancing between Phillora and Chawinda , when Pakistani Armour counter attacked from Wazirwali. Ferocious tank vs tank battle took place. 10 enemy tanks were destroyed and Phillora was captured. Lt Col A B Tarapore led from front and controlled the battle. During the battle, he was severely wounded but he refused to be evacuated.

Again on 14 September, he led the regiment and captured Wazirawali under heavy Armour and Artillery Fire. He had such a determination and grit that in spite of his tank getting several hits, he led the attack on Jassoron  and Butar Dograndi , west of Chawinda on 16 September 1965. He further supported Infantry battalions for capture of Chawinda deep inside enemy terittory. He was fatally wounded during attack by a direct Artillery shell hit.Poona Horse, under his command, destroyed 60 Patton tanks at cost of 9 own tanks. This was one of the mostdeadly Tank battle after 1945.

For the conspicuous bravery ,steel determination , heroic action,leading troops from front, exemplary valour during  six days of Armour battle in the best traditions of Indian Army , Lt Col  A B  Tarapore was awarded  Paramvir Chakra posthumously .

CQMH Abdul Hamid of 4 Grenadiers was a dare devil, who stalled the Pakistan I Armoured Division at Village Chima on Khemkaran –Taran Taran Axis with his 106 mm Recoil less Jeep mounted Gun and destroyed 6  Patton tanks before making the supreme sacrifice.

The misadventure of Pakistan Army proved to be a total disaster. The country suffered heavily in terms of men, war machines and material. It is estimated that almost 6000 Pak soldiers were killed and 475 tanks were destroyed. We also suffered losses. 2700 Indian troops made supreme sacrifice and 80 armoured fighting vehicles were lost. India returned all occupied territories including Strategic Haji Pir Pass.

The biggest shock India suffered was the tragic death of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri,. He was praised by Pak President Field Marshal Ayub Khan in his autobiography. “I could never imagine that the short, soft spoken, Indian PM could take the tallest decision of opening fronts in Punjab and Rajasthan to counter Operation Grand Slam in Jammu Kashmir in the monsoon war of 1965’ he wrote.

The best reward of the War was that the Indian Army finally got rid of the ghost of 1962 debacle and regained its status a strong regional military power. The Indian army fought with exemplary courage and professionalism and defeated the well laid plans of Pakistan. The losses of military hardware suffered by Pakistan were such that the country could not militarily stand up against India ever after and finally resorted to proxy, asymmetric warfare with a policy of a thousand cuts to keep alive its objective of disintegrating Indian by first wresting away Kashmir from the country.