War of 1965: From confusion to crux

Kashif Zaheer Kamboh

(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 50^th 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 6^th 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.