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HOW EVENTS UNFOLDEDJANUARY 1965: Pakistani troops begin patrollingin territory controlled by India in the Rann ofKutch. Pak build-up starts in the Kanjarkot area.

3 MARCH: The CRPF establishes Sardar Post inKutch to block Pak ingress route.

9 APRIL: Pakistan launches Op Desert Hawk I,attacking Sardar Post. The attack is repulsedand Pak forces withdraw. Exchange of artilleryfire and skirmishes between patrols continue.

20 APRIL: Under Op Desert Hawk II, Pakistanattacks Point 84 near Sardar Post in Kutch anddestroys Indian positions.

23 APRIL: Op Desert Hawk III launched byPakistan. Indian positions attacked with armoursupport. Biar Bet, 13 km south-west of Point 84,occupied by Pakistan.

26 APRIL: Indian Defence Minister announces inParliament that the Armed Forces have beenplaced on alert along the western frontier.Forces move into battle positions; Pakistanarmy placed on 12-hour notice.

16 MAY: Pakistan attacks Indian post in Kargilbut is repulsed. Indian recce patrols discoverPak encroachments in the Indian territory.

17 MAY: India successfully dislodges Pakistanitroops around Point 13620 in Kargil.

5-7 JUNE: Indian troops evict Pakistani forces fromKala Pahar and Snow Peak features in Kargil.

30 JUNE: Ceasefire agreement signed.Restoration of status quo as on January 1,1965. Hard won gains and the first successfulcounter-offensives by Indian troops in manyyears in the Kargil sector had to be given up.

5 AUGUST: Pakistan launches OperationGibraltar. Between 26,000 and 33,000Pakistani soldiers cross the Line of Controldressed as Kashmiri locals and head forvarious areas within Kashmir. Engage Indianforces in battles. Many group of infiltratorsdisintegrate or are neutralised.

13 AUGUST: Indian Navy tasked to deploy shipsfor protecting ports on the western coast.

15 AUGUST: Indian troops reoccupy picquets thathad been given up earlier.

24 AUGUST: Indian troops cross the CeasefireLine and occupy three Pak posts. Recovereddocuments prove Pakistan had sent ininfiltrators.

28 AUGUST: Strategic Hajipir Pass captured by India.

1 SEPTEMBER: Pakistan launches counter-attack,called Operation Grand Slam, with the objectiveto capture the vital town of Akhnoor in Jammu.Chhamb falls on the first day.

1 SEPTEMBER: The IAF launches missions toprovide air support to the Army in Chhamb.Loses four Vampire aircraft.

3 SEPTEMBER: The IAF gets it first airborne kill.Shoots down Pak Sabre jet.

5 SEPTEMBER: Ignoring UN appeals for aceasefire, Pak carries out air raid on Amritsar.

5-6 SEPTEMBER: Fall of Raja and Chand Tekrifeatures on the Poonch-Hajipir axis breaks theback of the Gibraltar force. Enemy resistance inthis sector ceases.

6 SEPTEMBER: India crosses the InternationalBorder on the western front, advancing towardsLahore and Sialkot and forcing Pak to relocateforces from the Akhnoor sector.

6 SEPTEMBER: Pak mounts air raid on 8 Indianairbases and radar stations.

7 SEPTEMBER: Pak paratroopers air-dropped nearPathankot, Halwara and Adampur to raidairbases, but fail miserably and are captured.

7 SEPTEMBER: Pak ships, including the cruiserBabur, disguised as merchant ships come nearthe Dwarka port and bombard it, but cause littledamage.

7 SEPTEMBER: IAF launches counter-strikes atseveral Pak airbases.

11 SEPTEMBER: Pak plan to capture the area westof Beas river using a massive force of six tankregiments frustrated in the Battle of Asal Uttar.Pak’s primer formation, I Armoured Division,humbled.

14 SEPTEMBER: East bank of the Ichhogil Canalin Pakistan and adjoining areas secured byIndian troops

22 SEPTEMBER: Ceasefire declared

Adampur 15

Ambala 3

Amritsar 9

Agartala 1

Bagdogra 1

Barrackpore 1

Halwara 17

Jamnagar 11

Jammu 3

Jodhpur 21

Kalaikunda 2

Pathankot 8

Patiala 1

Srinagar 5

Total 98

Airfields targeted by India (no. of attacks)Akwal 3

Bhagtanwala 1

Badin 1

Chaklala 1

Chak Jhumra 9

Chanderi 1

Chittagong 1

Chota Sardodha 2

Dab 1

Gujrat 2

Jessore 2

Kohat 1

Lal Munirhat 1

Mianwali 2

Multan 1

Murid 1

Nawabshah 2

Pasrur 1

Peshawar 2

Risalwala 3

Sargodha 17

Wagowal 6

SALVO FROM THE SKIESAirfields targeted by Pak (no. of attacks)

CAPTURE OF HAJIPIR PASS (AUG 28)UNCONVENTIONAL OPERATION: The capture ofHajipir Pass on the Pir Panjal range near Uri, whichwas a major route of ingress into the Kashmir valley,was a remarkable achievement. A silent and speedyattack in difficult terrain in adverse weatherconditions caught the enemy defending Sank bysurprise. The direction of the attack was unexpectedand the enemy troops had to abandon positions. Theenemy could not mount a co-ordinated counter-attacktill September 29. By then, the Indian troops hadconsolidated their position and repulsed the attack.

BATTLE OF CHAWINDA (SEPT 14-19)COURAGEOUS STALEMATE: The initial clashes at Chawinda,near Sialkot, coincided with the tank battle near Phillora andthe fighting intensified once the Pakistani forces at Philloraretreated. The aim of the Indian attack was to seize thekey GT Road around Wazirabad and capture Jassoran,which would enable domination of Sialkot-Pasrurrailway, thus completely cutting off the Pak supplyline. Pakistani forces were able to hold up theIndian advance at Chawinda after reinforcementsarrived. On September 21, Indian formationswithdrew to a defensive position. The next daythe ceasefire came into effect.

BATTLE OF BURKI (SEPT 8-11)JUST SHORT OF LAHORE: Foughtby Indian infantry and Pakistaniarmor 10 km south-east ofLahore and 500 metres short ofIchhogil Canal and the bridgeconnecting it with Lahore.During the battle, the relativestrengths of the two sides werefairly even and Indian infantryclashed with Pakistani forces

that were entrenched in pillboxes, dug-outs and slit trenchescarved into the canal banks. Pakistanis were supported by a largenumber of tanks and aided by fighter jets. The battle resulted inan Indian victory after they were able to capture the town onSeptember 11. The Indian advance continued towards Dograi.

BATTLE OF ASAL UTTAR (SEPT 8-10)DESPERATE DEFENCE: The Battle of Asal Uttar was one of the largest tankbattles fought during the War of 1965 and one of the key turning points ofthe war, one which tilted the balance of the war in favour of India. It wasfought from September 8 to 10, when the Pakistani army thrust its tanksand infantry into Indian territory, capturing the Indian town of Khem Karan,5 km from the International Border. Indian troops retaliated, and after threedays of bitter fighting, the battle ended with the Pakistani forces beingrepulsed near Asal Uttar. Factors that contributed to this were the conditionsof the plains, better Indian tactics and a successful Indian strategy. After thebattle, the Indian Army made attempts to take back lost territory in KhemKaran but met with no success. The commander of Pakistani forces, MajGen Nasir Ahmed Khan, was killed in action and about 100 Pakistani tankswere destroyed. The famous Patton Nagar or the graveyard of Patton tankscame up at the site due to the heavy loss of enemy tanks.

BATTLE OF DOGRAI (SEPT 13-23)TOUGH & BRILLIANT: The battles ofDograi and Batapore were foughtjust a few miles out of Lahore andwere among the toughest andbrilliantly executed campaigns ofthe war. Dograi dominated the all-important bridge on IchhogilCanal on the GT Road whichconnected Delhi throughAmritsar to Lahore. The

fighting was intense, with only 523 determined attackersgoing up against a defending force not only vastlysuperior in strength but also strongly entrenched. Theattack plan was unconventional and Indian troopscaptured Dograi on September 22 and held itdespite counter-attacks. Dograi stands outas a demonstration of what a singlebattalion can achieve.

BATTLE OF PHILLORA (SEPT 7-11)THE LAST HURRAH: The Battle of Phillora was one of thelargest tank battles fought during the Indo-Pak War of 1965. Itwas the first major engagement between the two nations inthe Sialkot sector and coincided with the Battle of Asal Uttar.The battle started on September 10 when Indian troopslaunched a massive attack in the Phillora sector. Elements ofIndia’s 1 Armoured Division comprising four armouredregiments faced stiff opposition from the Pakistani 6Armoured Division and came under air attack. For the nexttwo days, intense fighting continued. On September 12, 1965,the tank battle ended in an important decisive victory forIndia with the Pakistani forces retreating and regrouping toput up a last stand at Chawinda. According to Indian claims,67 Pakistani tanks were destroyed.

CAPTURE OF POINT 13620 (MAY 17)WHERE EAGLES DARE: Pakistan occupied

Point 13620 overlooking Kargil alongthe Ceasefire Line (now Line ofControl) as well as dominatingthe Srinagar-Leh highway and

the advance landing ground. Itwas captured by India in May,

but handed back in June. InAugust, Pakistan increased

ceasefire violations in this areaand the recapture of Point 13620became essential. A silent attack

was launched and the feature wasreoccupied on August 15. However,

after the Tashkent Agreement in 1966, itwas once again handed over to Pakistan.

Point 13620, along with other important features dominating the area, wereagain captured in 1971 and have since remained under Indian control.

OPERATION DWARKA (SEPT 7)INSIGNIFICANT FIRE SHOW:Pakistani naval vessels bombed the Indian radar station at Dwarka.About 50 shells fired by Pakistaniships destroyed the radar anddamaged the naval airstrip andnearby areas, killing 49 navalpersonnel and civilians. The operation,termed by some historians as a

nuisance raid of little strategic value, was aimed to divert the Indian Air Force from theNorth and also to draw out the Indian fleet from Bombay to be targeted by the lonePakistani submarine Ghazi. An Indian frigate, INS Talwar, was in the nearby Okha portundergoing repairs and did not intervene. The major part of the Indian fleet, includingaircraft carrier INS Vikrant, was in dock for refitting when war broke out.

The war zoneIt began with a series of skirmishes in April, leading to a full-scale warin Aug-Sept — concentrated along the Punjab and J&K frontiers.Some operations were undertaken after the ceasefire on Sept 22

URI SRINAGAR

ISLAMABAD

FAISALABAD

POONCH

AKHNOOR

AMRITSAR

BURKI

KHEM KARAN

.DOGRAI

CHHAMB

CHAWINDA

LAHORE

NEW DELHI

KARGIL

HE was known to be the finest shot with arecoilless gun (RCL) in his battalion.When he went down fighting at the age of

32, Company Quartermaster Havildar AbdulHamid’s skill had proved to be invaluable inchecking the advance of enemy tanks that hadmanaged to breach forward defences.

At 8 am on September 10, the Pakistani forceslaunched an attack with a regiment ofPatton tanks on a vital area ahead ofCheema village on Bhikhiwind road inthe Khem Karan sector. Intenseartillery shelling preceded the attack.An hour later, enemy tanks had pene-trated the forward position. Realisingthe grave situation, Abdul Hamid, whowas commander of a RCL gun detach-ment, moved out to a flanking positionwith his gun mounted on a jeep, under intenseenemy shelling and tank fire. Taking an advan-tageous position, he knocked out the leadingenemy tank and then swiftly changing his posi-tion, sent another tank up in flames. By thistime, the enemy tanks spotted him and broughthis jeep under concentrated machine-gun andhigh explosive fire. Undeterred, Abdul Hamidengaged yet another enemy tank with his RCL.While doing so, he was mortally wounded by anenemy high explosive shell.

“Company Quartermaster Havildar AbdulHamid’s brave action inspired his comrades toput up a gallant fight and to beat back theheavy tank assault by the enemy. His completedisregard for his personal safety during theoperation and his sustained acts of bravery inthe face of constant enemy fire were a shiningexample not only to his unit but also to the

whole division and were in the high-est traditions of the Indian Army,” hiscitation states.

Abdul Hamid was born on July 1,1933, at Dhamupur village inGhazipur district of Uttar Pradeshand enrolled into the Grenadiers inDecember, 1954. He was posted to theregiment’s 4th Battalion where hespent his entire service life. He is sur-

vived by his widow, Rasoolan Bibi, who stays inhis native village where his memorial, recentlyrenovated by an NGO, also stands.

A mausoleum was constructed on his graveby his battalion at Asal Uttar and each year amela is organised on the date of his martyrdom.A dispensary, a library and a school have beennamed after him in Asal Uttar. In his honour,the Army Postal Service issued a special coveron September 10, 1979, and on January 28,2000, a postage stamp of Rs 3 denomination.

DEFENDER OF ASAL UTTAR ABDUL HAMID, PARAM VIR CHAKRA, 4 GRENADIERS (POSTHUMOUS)

GALLANTRY ran in his blood. When hehad laid down his life in the line of duty,Lieutenant Colonel Ardeshir Burzarji

Tarapore of 17 (Poona) Horse had left behind alegacy of valour that began when he was just afew years old.

It was on September 11, 1965, that PoonaHorse, which he was then commanding, wasassigned the task of delivering themain armoured thrust for capturingPhillora in the Sialkot sector in Pak-istan. As a preliminary to making asurprise attack on Phillora from therear, the regiment was advancingbetween Phillora and Chawinda whenit was counter-attacked by the ene-my’s heavy armour from Wazirali. LtCol Tarapore, who was then at thehead of his regiment, defied the enemy’scharge, held his ground and attacked Phillorawith one of his squadrons supported by aninfantry battalion. Though under continuousenemy tank and artillery fire, he remainedunperturbed throughout and when woundedrefused to be evacuated.

On September 14, though still wounded, heagain led his regiment to capture Wazirali. Dis-playing extreme grit and determination andunmindful of his injury, he again led his regi-

ment and captured Jassoran and Butur-Dograndi on September 16. His own tank washit several times, but despite the odds, the 42-year-old officer maintained his pivots in boththese places and thereby allowed the support-ing infantry to attack Chawinda from the rear.

“Inspired by his leadership, the regiment fierce-ly attacked the enemy heavy armour, destroying

approximately 60 enemy tanks at a costof only nine tank casualties, and whenLt Col AB Tarapore was mortallywounded, the regiment continue todefy the enemy,” his citation states.

Lt Col Tarapore was born on August18, 1923, in Mumbai and belonged tothe family of General Ratanjiba, wholed the army of Chatrapati Shivaji.After completing his matriculation in

1940, he applied for the Army and after initialtraining in the Officers’ Training School at Gol-conda was commissioned in the 7th HyderabadInfantry as a Second Lieutenant.

On his request for transfer from the infantryto the cavalry, he was moved to 1st HyderabadImperial Service Lancers, the unit which foughtalongside the Poona Horse in Operation Polo.On accession of Hyderabad, he was posted toPoona Horse. Lt Col Tarapore also saw activeservice in West Asia during World War II.

INDIA PAKISTANDefence budget $970,000,000 $269,000,000

Army strength 7,00,000 2,60,000

IInnffaannttrryy ◗ 9 Infantry Divisions ◗ 7 Infantry Divisions(4 were on reduced establishment)

◗ 11 Mountain Divisions ◗ 2,50,000 light militia(Most were newly raised and some were understrength and not fully equipped)

AArrmmoouurr ◗ One Armoured Division ◗ Two Armoured Divisions (with only one brigade) (One with one-third strength)

◗ One Independent Armoured Brigade◗ 5 Independent Armoured Squadrons◗ 720 tanks ◗ 765 tanks◗ 16 regiments ◗ 17 regiments

AArrttiilllleerryy ◗ 25 Mountain Regiments ◗ 4 Self-propelled Regiments (3.7" / 76 mm) (25 Pounders / 105 mm)

◗ 41 Field Regiments ◗ 25 Field Regiments (25 Pounder) (25 Pounders / 105 mm)

◗ 2 Para Field Regiments (100 mm)◗ 10 Medium Regiments ◗ 10 Medium Regiments

(5.5" / 100 mm) (5.5" / 155 mm)◗ 1 Heavy Regiment (7.2") ◗ 1 Heavy Regiment (8")◗ 19 Light Regiments (120 mm mortars) ◗ 8 Mortar Regiments (120 mm)◗ 21 Air Defence Regiments (L60 / L70) ◗ 3 anti-aircraft regiments

Navy personnel 17,000 8,000

Aircraft Carrier 1 Nil

Cruisers 2 1

Destroyers 6 5

Frigates 8 2

Submarine Nil 1

Minesweepers 6 8

Naval aircraft 39 Information not available (NA)

Coast Guard Nil 1,500

Air Force strength 63,000 25,000

Aircraft 700 260

Fighter squadrons 26 (1 MiG 21 Sqn had 7 aircraft only) 9

Bomber squadrons 4 2

Transport squadrons 13 2

Helicopter units 5 NA

WAR LOSSESINDIA

Indian claims Pakistani claims Neutral claims

Casualties 2,862 8,200 killed or captured 3,000

Aircraft lost 75 110 60-75

Tanks lost 97 500 captured or destroyed 150

Territory lost 322 sq km 2,575 sq km 540 sq km

PAKISTANPakistani claims Indian claims Neutral claims

Casualties Info not available 5,259 killed or captured 3,800

Tanks lost 165 471+38 captured 300

Aircraft lost 19 73 20

Territory lost 650 sq km 1,920 sq km 1,840 sq km

HOW THE ARMED FORCES MATCHED UP

PARAM VIR CHAKRAARMY 02

MAHA VIR CHAKRAARMY 33 AIR FORCE 05

VIR CHAKRAARMY 128 AIR FORCE 44

GALLANTRY AWARDS

BLAZING PAST IN PHILLORALI COL ARDESHIR BURZARJI TARAPORE, PARAM VIR CHAKRA, 17 (POONA) HORSE (POSTHUMOUS)

4-5 chandigarh | 30 August 201550 years of 1965 War

SUTLEJ

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BEAS

INDUS

IND

US C

HENAB

OPERATIONS IN KUTCH (FEBRUARY-JUNE)YAHYA’S OVERKILL: Pakistani troops beganpatrolling in the territory controlled by India inJanuary, which was followed by attacks by bothcountries on each other’s posts on April 8. Initiallyinvolving border guarding police forces from bothnations, the disputed area soon witnessedintermittent skirmishes between the armedforces, which also resulted in casualties. Pakistanlaunched several attacks on Indian posts, backedby artillery support. In April, Pakistan captured anIndian post in the area called Biar Bet. In June,Britain persuaded both countries to endhostilities and set up a tribunal to resolve thedispute. In 1968, the tribunal awardedPakistan 910 square km of the Rann ofKutch against itsoriginal claim of 9,100square km.

OPERATIONS IN RAJASTHAN (SEPTEMBER)FOR A LINE IN THE SAND: To counter thePakistani division in Sind, India opened a new frontin Rajasthan and Indian troops entered Pakistanon September 8. This thrust was a diversionarymove and logistics were a major issue in thissector on both sides. Air strikes were alsolaunched by both air forces. India captured Gadgacity but lost Munabao outpost. Post-ceasefire,there were Pakistani infiltrations to grab Indianterritory, but these were largely evicted.

TOP HONOURS

KUTCH

Total 61

�Map not to scale �Data compiled from official history of the 1965 War by the Ministry of Defence and media reports.

Born in Lucknow a year apart, the Keelor brothers, Denzil and Trevor,were Gnat pilots of the Indian Air Force during the war. They were bothdecorated with the Vir Chakra for aerial kills during Operation Riddle

INDIAOperation Ablaze -- India’s retaliatory measures along International Border following Desert HawkOperation Nepal -- Counter-offensive by 1 Corpsin Chhamb-Jaurian sectorOperation Riddle -- Offensive by 11 Corps in Punjab

PAKISTANOperation Desert Hawk -- Attacks onIndian posts in KutchOperation Gibraltar -- Infiltration andsubversion in KashmirOperation Grand Slam -- Offensive inChhamb-Jaurian sector

L ACLoC

Text: VIJAY MOHAN Illustration: SANJEEV KUMAR

PoKSIAC

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DWARKA

AKSAI CHIN

PHILLORA

ASAL UTTAR

BARMER

CAMPAIGN CODES

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