(Writer did his MPhil in Public Polices from
NDU, Islamabad, Pakistan and currently working as policy analyst in a Islamabad
based Think Tank)
Indians are confused nation in perspective of
their narratives, foreign policies and now victories in wars. Previously this
was acclaimed by Indian ministry of defence that, war of 1965 ended without any
triumph or defeat. But now Indian government under the controversial leadership
of Modi decided to celebrate 50th anniversary of 1965 war. Now new
strategy is to launch new controversies and myths in order to portray an uphold
victory. Its overwhelming narrative that war of September 1965 was ignited with
Operation Giblator. This is a blunder with history and betray with contemporary
and coming generations. Pakistani writers themselves put the onus of starting
1965 war on Bhutto, unmindful of the fact that they are branding their own
country as the aggressor. However, the matter of the fact is, that the 1965
Indo-Pakistan war did not begin with the sending of infiltrators into Kashmir.
It began much earlier when India had occupied Kargil in 16-17 May 1965.
Operation Gibraltar was launched three months after that on 5 August 1965.
Operation
Gibraltor was launched in a disputed territory to reply Indian invasion on
Kargil hills but Indian Air Force waved a full-fledged war by attacking
passenger train moving to Lahore on 6th September. Indians were
having a total of 700,000 infantry combating with country (Pakistan) 10 times
smaller in geography with an army of 260,000.
Indians attacked from Lahore side and Pakistan unleashed
counter-offensive from Khem Karan. They opened different icons of war on
Pakistani border. GandaSingh Border Kasur, Chawinda Sialkot, Sindh and Kashmir
to engage Pakistani military. Plan was very dangerous to cut Lahore by rapidly
moving from Sialkot to G.T Road Gujranwala towards Rawalpindi. Indian generals
applauded to celebrate their morning lunch at Lahore Gymkhana which remained a
dream. World’s largest after World War II invasion of tanks was unleashed at
Chawinda. Indians faced a grinding halt at Chawinda border by losing 120 tanks.
More than 100,000 Indian troops moved aggressively towards Pakistan administered
Kashmir.
Air force of
both countries especially PAF played a vital force and marked history with
swinging events. Indian were having 466 air crafts whereas Pakistan was
combating 203 air crafts. According to Mr. Nur Khhan (Air vice Marshall) PAF
lost 19 aircraft by destroying 108 Indian planes. MM Alam bench marked history
by hitting five Indian air crafts less than a minute. Kenneth Werrell praised
the Pakistan Air Force "did well in the conflict and probably had the
edge. Pakistan Air force’s triumph was acclaimed by all the international
forces and open observers.
Naval
operations played a decisive role in blue waters. Pakistan Navy launched
operation Dwarkha under the command of highly intelligent commodore S.M. Anwar.
PNS Ghazi bombarded and ceased movement of Indian Navy at the Bombay. Air craft
carriers, and other water based weapons were forced to stay on stand still
position by the PNS. So this was an open victory in blue waters which was later
questioned in Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament).
Indian plan to
capture Lahore was a failed plan and ultimately movement was ceased till BRB
defence canal. Indian Infantory attacked with tanks from Chawinda but went
unable to isolate Lahore from rest of country. Resultantly lost field of
Chawinda and faced sever loss of 110 tanks. Indian Air force was badly defeated
by Pakistan Air force. Least but not last performance of Indian Navy can be
better described in discussions of Lok Sabha.
Why
Pakistan does have a right to celebrate victory because they captured a large
portion of India in Khem Karan, ceased their movement at Chawinda and Kasur. 500
Indian soldiers were imprisoned along with 15 tanks only at Chamb sector.
Another 30 were arrested by Col Nasser Babar at Bhimbar Sctor when he
mistakenly landed in said area. Indian navy was tamed by single PNS Ghazi and
Indian Air force got a clear defeat in open airs. Pakistan, a country
geographically 10 times smaller combated with an aggressor country which was
having edge on military, diplomacy, and icons of international relations.
Where is the
Indian victory which they are celebrating??? When your plans are not met, your
strategies are unable to produce fruit and objectives are collapsed then why
you are confused???? Yes they can celebrate one thing that they were aggressors
and psychologically they proved themselves as invaded innocents.
