1965 WAR - A Saga of Indian Defeat
Lt Col Atique Ur Rehman

“In the Jammu – Sialkot Sector, the Indian Army massed the largest chunk of its might i.e. 1 Corps consisting of one Armoured Division (one Armoured Brigade and one Lorried Brigade), two Infantry Divisions and one Mountain Division. However, 1 Corps did not achieve proportionate results. Here again, bad generalship at the Corps and the Divisional levels, and lack of cooperation among the formations, were responsible for their poor showing.”.
These quotes are from chapter 12 of the Indian Official History of 1965 war. The Indian official History is full of such observations about the inefficiency of their military leadership during 1965 which ultimately led them to defeat.
On the morning of 6th September when Indian crossed into Pakistan territory in the Burki Sector, the higher ups had assured their under command that they would have their breakfast in Lahore. But in the next few days the Indian Army was to learn that a nation’s spirit could never be taken lightly.
An American Radio Service Journalist Rai Milan writes in his war diary “I want to bring it on record that India is claiming victory but on ground there is no evidence to support Indian claims. What I see is only destroyed Indian tanks and huge logistic support units rolling towards their forward area. During my long journalistic career spanning over two decades, I have never seen a group of such confident individuals as the victorious Pakistani soldiers fighting against Indians”.
In the Wikipedia (The Free Encyclopedia), while analyzing the war of 1965 it is written that invasion of Pakistan by the Indian Army was a strategic blunder. Indian Army failed to analyse the real potential of Pakistan Army which resultanted into their defeat. The official History of the 1965 War drafted by the Indian Ministry in 1992 was a long suppressed document that outlined intelligence and strategic blunders by India during war. According to the document, on September 22, when the Security Council was pressing for a ceasefire, the Indian Prime Minister asked the General Chaudhri if India could possibly win the war, were he delay accepting the ceasefire for a little while longer. The General replied that most of the India’s frontline ammunition had been used up and the Indian Army had suffered tank losses.
It was revealed later that only 14% of India’s frontline ammunition had been fired and India still held twice the number of tanks than Pakistan. By this time the Pakistan Army had used up about to 80% of its ammunition. Air Chief Marshal (Retired) P.C. Lal, who was the Vice Chief of Air Staff during the conflict, points to the lack of coordination between the IAF and the Indian Army. Neither side revealed its battle plans to the other. The battle plans drafted by Ministry of Defence and General Chaudhri, did not specify a role for the Indian Air Force in the order of battle.
There are hundreds of other blunders by the Indian Intelligence and their field commanders.
Pakistan Army, with backing of the entire nation, stood like a cemented wall against Indian onslaught on all fronts. On the Sialkot front one Indian Infantry, one Armoured Division and an Armoured Brigade were repulsed by an Infantry Division.Fifteen Indian attacks were repulsed only at Chawida – Philora Sectors. Indian had to face the biggest of humiliations on the Lahore front, where thirteen of their attacks were repulsed. At Kasur Pakistani forces not only repulsed many Indian attacks but went deep into India and captured a substantial chunk of their territory. The spirited Pakistani nation faced boldly the Indian might and defeated them on all fronts. There have been rare examples of extreme valour and courage in military history as were witnessed during 1965 both by Pakistani nation and soldiers. Despite numerical superiority Indians were humiliated on all fronts in sea, air and ground. The war that India foisted on Pakistan on September 6, 1965 was the product of several years of constant and delibera planning in New Delhi. The underlying Indian philosophy behind this aggressive attack on a smaller neighbour Pakistan was to take revenge of the division of India in 1947 and endeavor to reverse the freedom and independence of the Muslims of Pakistan. The war that continued with full resolve and determination in the ranks and file of Pakistani armed forces proved once and for ever, that the valiant Pakistani soldiers backed by a resolute nation were not to be cowed by Indian threats and intimidations.
The changing global environment and challenges faced by us today demand same unity, faith, discipline and determination which the nation displayed forty one year ago during 1965 war. After the October 8th earthquake, last year, the nation once again proved that whether it is a natural calamity or a foreign aggression, the Pakistani nation is ready to face all challenges with fortitude and courage. It was heartening to see when every individual of this nation came out to help their brethren in distress and pain in Azad Kashmir and NWFP who were affected due to earthquake.

The Epic of Sept 65
Faruk Ashrafeen

On the 6th of September 1965, the then 18-year old Pakistan, found itself face to face with an extremely challenging situation when India broke out a sudden and undeclared war. Nation took it by surprise but equally surprising was its response to the aggressor. Not only the nation stood united and guarded behind our armed forces, the brave sons of soil, the soldiers, pilots and sailors proved that they could go to any extent in defense of their country whether on ground, in air or at sea. The world witnessed that Pakistan emerged out of the crisis triumphant, with dignity and success.
It was 1965 that provided us an opportunity to weigh our indigenous strength. Our Armed Forces for the first time found out what great potential they had and what dent they could pose to the ten time bigger enemy. That’s why the ghazis, shaheeds are befittingly saluted, for, they laid down their lives while safeguarding frontiers of our country and above all our future. Indian army had been expecting a walk through in Lahore area, but the Indian dream could not materialize due to the heroic role of the sons of soil. Huge credit goes to the nation, the regiments, units, and the soldiers who were deployed in Lahore areas of Wagah, Burki etc.
India attacked Pakistan with high hopes of taking back the country into its fold ‘to prove that the Two-Nation Theory was wrong’. But they were unaware that they were up against an army whose valor and professionalism was to write new chapters in warfare. Yes, the brave wrote the history with their blood and defeated the enemy’s military might with their limited fire power through sheer will power and commitment.
According to one of the contemporary war experts, the 1965 Pak-India War was the most intense ever in the recorded history of military warfare since World War-II as close to a thousand tanks, on both sides, took part in the pitch battles and offensives. It is true that Pakistan Army was outnumbered with a ratio of 1:3 in almost every aspect of the war by India, but definitely not in gallantry, patriotism and the will and readiness to lay down lives for the motherland.
The spirit of `65 is the strength of character, the firm resolution and the fortitude that overwhelmed every Pakistani to stand up to be counted as a defender of the homeland. The army had the gun power, air force had accuracy while Navy did not miss its target when it mattered most. Add all these virtues together with the nation’s overwhelming support, Pakistan’s Armed Forces proved to be an insurmountable wall. For 17 days the stories our war heroes wrote and which later became folklore, remain unparalleled even today. A search through the pages of history gives us a heart warming account of the heroes, some of whom were awarded while others remain un-sung.
Despite disadvantages, the PAF performed excellently in the war in September 1965. During this war, Sq. Ldr M M Alam set a world record by shooting down five Indian planes in just one sortie. By the time war ended, he had downed 9 Indian planes and damaged another two. PAF pilots proved their professional competence by bombing Pathankot there were many other bases and Kalaikunda Air Bases, two of the most important and heavily guarded bases of the IAF. When the war ended, PAF had shot down about 65 Indian planes while losing itself only 19 planes. After the war ended, several IAF officers appreciated PAF’s daring performance. Indian Air Marshal Raghavendran (in his article The Day the PAF Got Away) has, very rightly paid high accolades to the leadership of Air Marshal Asghar Khan and Nur Khan who converted the PAF into a formidable force.
Raghaven says, ‘I also knew of Nur Khan, the Pakistani air chief, by reputation. He was an alumnus of my own school, the RIMC in Dehra Dun. He had been a ‘killer’ boxer and devout Muslim while at school. He had a plethora of professional role models from among older alumni of RIMC to base his conduct on, including Prem Bhagat, the first Indian Victoria Cross awardee in World War II. His predecessor as the air chief in Pakistan was Asghar Khan, also from the RIMC, who was another thorough professional. Between them, and with immense help from the USA, they had built up a tradition of professionalism and one couldn’t possibly expect them to let the Indian Air Force get away with it’.
Raghaven gives a pictorial view of the destruction at Pathankot in following words, ‘THAT IS WHEN THE PAF STRUCK! There was pandemonium. Bullets were flying all around. We all rushed to the nearest trench and dived in, not sitting and crouching as we should have been but piling ourselves flat on top of each other!! We could hear and see the Pakistani Sabres going round and round, as though in range practice, and picking off all the possible aircraft, including the two MiG-21s, in spite of the anti-aircraft guns blazing away. The rest is history.
Similar successes were achieved in the war in the Indian Ocean between the two arch rivals. Despite having limited number of war ships as compared to India’s Pakistan Navy successfully defended its territorial waters through valour and acts of gallantry. As a result Indians were unable to take control around Karachi or elsewhere.
Operation Dwarka is considered one of the most significant events of 1965 war in which Pakistan Navy bravely faced the enemy onslaught and successfully repulsed it. On September 7, 1965, when the Pakistan Navy ships were on their war patrol, a signal was received from Naval Headquarters which ordered that the task group comprising PNS Babur, PNS Khyber, PNS Badr, PNS Jehangir, PHS Alamgir, PNS Shahjahan and PNS Tipu Sultan, was to be in position 120 miles from Dwarka light house. They were to later bombard Dwarka around midnight and retreat. At midnight, the ships were ready to strike a punch in the face of the enemy which they have not forgotten even today. The city of Dwarka was completely blacked out and the target could only be identified on radar. It only took four minutes to complete the bombardment and the ships returned successfully without suffering any loss or damages.
Now it has been 41 years since our heroes like Major Raja Aziz Bhatti and other Shaheeds laid down their lives fighting gallantly against the enemy to save motherland during the 1965 war. By laying down their lives, they rekindled the flame of sacrifice among the nation and proved that nothing is greater a cause than one's beloved country. Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, and many many others played a huge role in the outcome of the Lahore battle. The bravest are surely those who have the clearest vision of what is before them, glory and danger alike, and yet notwithstanding go out to meet it.
These soldiers laid their lives for a better future of our country. A better future is achieved by a better nation, and a better nation never forgets its history, especially the martyrs. They died so that we could hold our heads high whenever we speak of our country. They died so that we could live! The whole Pakistani nation is proud of them. We salute our national heroes.
The Pakistani nation is going to celebrate its 41st Defense Day this year with a renewed resolve and commitment that it would defend the country by all means and at all costs. This time the security situation inside and around Pakistan is far more different and demanding from that of 1965. At that time it was one enemy against Pakistan. But this time the collaborators of hate have joined hands with each other to ‘give a punitive blow to Pakistan’. There is a growing demand in India to launch a Lebanon-like attack on Pakistan and eliminate the causes of terrorism, once and for all. President Pervez Musharraf has rightly and timely warned India that Pakistan would never allow anyone to move an inch into Pakistani territory. However, this should serve as an eye-opener for the sons of soil in particular and the people of the homeland in general. The enemy knows the capability of our defense, but war is a means to exploit the weaknesses of internal elements.
New Delhi must know that Israel fought a non-state group and has got bogged down; India would be facing a highly trained and motivated military. It would be stupidity on part of the enemy to discount it in Pakistan’s case. But General Patton was right in describing war as an orgy of disorder; the best plans tend to go awry after the shooting begins. So while it is all very well to talk about what the Indian military can, the plan is unlikely to survive the first shot. It is the call of time for India not to resort to committing any kind of blunder. But at the same time, it is the call of time for our soldiers to get ready and the nation to get prepared to thwart any kind of aggression against our country, on this historic day.


Bomber operations PAF: Indo-Pak War 1965
Flight Lieutenant Qammar Chishti

1. "A country without a strong Air Force is at the mercy of any aggressor. Pakistan must build up her Air Force as quickly as possible. It must be an efficient Air Force, second to none." This advice by the Father of the Nation, the Quaid-e-Azam has been the principle for those who have built the PAF into what it is today and continues to inspire the young generations which follow.
2. It was an arduous task to build a strong and potent air force, made more difficult in the case of Pakistan, due to its political, technological and above all, economic constraints at the time of its birth. Pakistan Air Force since its first day had to, therefore, strive hard and long to develop into a modern and effective air force. The ability of our airmen was amply tested in two major wars and today we can say, with reasonable confidence, that we are in a position to meet any challenge that may come our way. But, it must be understood that in this day and age of fast-changing technological environment, the struggle ahead may be even harder, more uphill than what was faced by our predecessors.
3. In 1965 war, the world has seen some historic bombing operations by PAF pilots against different enemy locations. The B-57 bomber wing which was located at Mauripur Base contributed in the war by performing classical bombing operations at Jamnagar, Adampur and Pathankot. All these operations were mostly carried out at night, and required a great deal of concentration and precision. The sole aim of these operations was to deny the enemy, the use of its airpower, by destroying the airfields from which they were supposed to takeoff.
4. On 6th September 1965 at 4:30 p.m., a quick twenty minutes final briefing was conducted for the B-57 attack against Jamnagar to be carried out at 6:00 p.m., the same day. This was the second attack at Jamnagar which had earlier been attacked by six F-86 aircraft.
5. The six B-57 set out in two waves of three aircraft each, flying at 200 feet above ground level. Following the coast line, they soon crossed over into Indian Territory, descending even lower to avoid radar detection. Mandvi lighthouse beacon shining brightly helped the B-57s to fix their position for final approach at Jamnagar, now some four minutes away. A mile short of the target the aircraft pulled up and each was able to deliver its load of 4,000 Ibs of bombs on to the target. All aircraft were carrying a full load of rockets as well, and for this reason only internal bombs had been taken. The last minute orders for the mission had not allowed time for the rockets to be replaced by external bombs. The leader, however, discharged his rockets-at-a hangar and set it ablaze. No fighter interceptors and anti-aircraft fire were encountered.
6. Thereafter a "shuttle service" to Jamnagar was kept up all night with single aircraft sorties. During these operations, one PAF aircraft was lost which was attributed towards fatigue and bad weather. A photo intelligence report of Jamnagar confirmed that a total of about fifteen bombs landed inside the airfield complex, destroying two Indian Air Force Vampires in the technical area.
7. In another operation, four of B-57s aircraft from Mauripur were ordered to report at Peshawar. On landing at Peshawar, the leader of the formation was informed about his mission to strike Adampur at 5:30 p.m. The aircraft had left Mauripur with internal bombs only and were to have the external stations loaded at Peshawar. However, Peshawar that evening was crowded with aircraft and arrangements had not yet been made to meet the unforeseen commitments that had suddenly arisen for the base. While the maintenance staff struggled to refuel the aircraft, time was slipping by, and in order not to delay their mission further, their leader decided to drop his demand for the external bombs.
8. It was already dusk before they took off, and pitch dark when the B-57 crossed into India, flying at low level. The Initial Point, ten minutes from their target, was the bridge over the river Beas, a darker streak on an already dark canvas, but they made no mistake about the attack. The anti-aircraft swung in action but the bombers repeated the attacks regardless of its hazard. Except for one aircraft, that had its left wing pierced by a 40 mm shell, no other damage was sustained. The formation landed back at Peshawar at 9:00 p.m. and was tasked for another mission against a bridge at 4:00 a.m. The formation, encouraged by the success of the first mission, accepted the task willingly and destroyed the target as required.
9. The non-stop nature of PAF's airfield offensive was indicated by the fact that, as the Adampur strike force was landing back at Peshawar, the other five B-57s were taking off for a follow up strike against Pathankot. The operational signal indicated four aircraft, but as five were available, so all took off. The disused airfield at Pasrur was the IP (Initial Point) for run-in for the target. The new moon was giving a faint light and the visibility was fairly good. The Indian black out was quite good even in small villages.
10. There was no sign of any fire etc. of the previous F-86s attack. In fact there was a probability of missing the target. Thanks to an Indian who was kind enough to forget putting the airfield beacon off. It provided accurate pinpoint direction for the destruction of Pathankot. The enemy heard the attack and opened up with everything he had. It further assisted our pilots to see the airfield clearly. A large concentration of ground defences was reported at Pathankot. The PAF pilots were clear in their minds that once they were in an attack, they had to accomplish the mission. The enemy suffered a heavy loss. Next morning our troops intercepted an enemy radio message which said, "Pathankot burning, immediate help needed".
11. To conduct counter air offensive mission against enemy airfield, and to remain out of reach of their fighter aircraft, the PAF bomber wing remained elusive throughout the war. The pattern repeated was to take off from home base, strike inside Indian territory and recover at another airfield. The B-57 operations called for great skill, concentration, stamina and dedication. These qualities were found in abundance in the ever-eager crew of the wing and no task seemed impossible for them.