Pakistan Army - Saga of valour & service to the nation
Sultan M. Hali

THE story of the evolution of the Armed Forces of Pakistan is the story of the birth of Pakistan itself against heavy odds. The army was pressed into action directly at the time of our independence.  Pakistan’s armed forces, though they present a formidable strength today, made a humble beginning, virtually starting from a scratch. Post partition, the military assets of British India was unjustly divided in a ratio of 64: 36% between India and Pakistan. Unfortunately, Indian spitefulness resulted in Pakistan receiving only a fraction of its original share and that too in a dilapidated state. Pakistan Army had its baptism under fire just after its inception; after the fraudulent accession of Kashmir by the Maharaja Hari Singh on 27 October, 1947, Mountbatten and Nehru air-launched the Indian Army into the Srinagar Valley. The India Army’s offensive was halted at the Ceasefire Line (now Line of Control) by Pakistan Army. Kashmir remains an unresolved issue between Pakistan and India despite the UN Resolutions seeking the mandate of the people of Kashmir to join either Pakistan or India. Despite his frail condition and failing health, Quaid-e-Azam visited establishments of all three Services.  Fledgling Pakistan was deprived of the leadership of the Quaid as early as September 1948. Owing to the Quaid’s exhortations, Pakistan Army made a sound start, despite the early teething problems due to unequal distribution of assets, our founding fathers made prudent decisions, which put Pakistan on the road to development.
The enthusiasm and spirit of the people and Armed Forces in the 1965 War proved to be the finest hour for Pakistan. The Armed Forces proved their mettle against a vastly superior force and stopped it in its tracks. Pakistan’s valiant sons stood united as one solid edifice to defend their motherland. The trail blazing acts of valour set the standards for generations to follow. The arms embargo on Pakistan following the 1965 War, made it strive for self reliance and diversify its sources. The Pakistan Ordnance Factory, which was established in 1951, at Wah Cantonment, near Rawalpindi, to produce small arms, ammunition, and explosives was modernized and expanded to meet the challenges of modern armed forces. The blue print for Heavy Mechanical Complex at Taxila, as an arms rebuilding factory was also laid. Heavy Industries Taxila provides facilities for overhaul, rebuild and progressive manufacture of Main Battle Tanks, Armoured Recovery Vehicles, Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs), guns and production of MBT-2000 Al-Khalid, and Al-Zarrar Tanks. In addition it has the capability to rebuild, upgrade and modernize Armoured Vehicles of both Eastern and Western origin. 1971 was the most tragic year in the history of Pakistan and its armed forces bore the brunt of it.
The War in 1971 was forced on Pakistan and resulted in the dismemberment of its eastern wing; But gave it a new resolve to work hard and stand on its own feet. The road to development, self reliance and indigenization has enabled Pakistan to develop its own missiles, tanks, armoured personnel carriers, submarines, ships and aircraft. The acquisition of modern weapons and equipment in Pakistan Army along with its indigenous production of combat arms and ammunition proved to be a major source of motivation for the troops to meet any challenge to Pakistan’s sovereignty. After the success of it’s major developments in the defense industry the Defense Export Promotion Organization (D.E.P.O.) was created to promote Pakistani defense equipment to the world by inviting major and small players to the I.D.E.A.S. Exhibition, which is held annually at the Karachi expo center.
Military Training system in Pakistan is comprehensive and has a well defined structure.  Pakistan Military Academy Kakul is the principal cradle of leadership for officer training for the Army. Besides other professional training institutions, Staff College Quetta and National Defence University prepare the officer cadre to face future challenges.  Through their portals pass, thousands of Gentlemen Cadets, who are moulded from an inchoate mass into magnificent officers, imbibed with fighting spirit, conviction in their national cause, unflinching and selfless devotion to duty.
Pakistan Army provides equal opportunities to women, who now proudly serve alongside men to take up the challenges of defending their nation.  Since 1960, Pakistan Army has been actively participating in the UN multi-national efforts to maintain peace and order around the globe. Its contribution to UN peacekeeping has been as wide-ranging as the varied cultural, geographic, political and security conditions in which it had to operate. Congo, West Irian, Somalia, New Guinea, Cambodia, East Timor, Slovenia, Haiti, Bosnia, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ivory Coast, Kuwait and Yemen are to name just a few. 
The humble contribution it has made in this regard bespeaks its desire to see the principles of human dignity, freedom and self-determination applied to all the peoples struggling to secure their inalienable basic rights. Conflict at Siachen, the world’s highest battle ground is embedded in the unresolved Kashmir dispute. Siachen On April 13, 1984, Indian Army committed aggression and occupied positions overlooking key passes in the Saltoro Range. Pakistan Army rushed its troops to stop further advancement of the Indian troops. Since then both armies face each other, combating the harsh brutal weather as well as each other. Kargil was not a one off operation but the latest in a series of moves and countermoves at a tactical level by India and Pakistan along the Line of control in the inaccessible snow bounded Northern Areas. Indians had been creeping forward across the Line of control even after Simla agreement. The Kashmiri Freedom fighting mujahideen occupied the Kargil heights that the Indian army had vacated for the winter. The Indians brought four regular divisions into the area along with a heavy concentration of Artillery. The Kargil operation was a landmark in the history of Pakistan army. As few as five Battalions in support of freedom fighter groups were able to compel the Indians to employ a large no of formations. Our nation remains proud of its commanders and troops, whose grit and determination was obvious and unquestionable.
Pakistan’s missile program is indigenous and has a wide array of weapon systems in its missile arsenal, which range from the short range Hatf to the medium range Abdali, Ghaznavi and Shaheen and the long range Ghauri and Shaheen 2; Pakistan has successfully tested its indigenous Cruise Missile Babur, which can be launched from ground, air and sea platforms including submarines.  In May 1998, India carried out its second nuclear tests at Pokhran after the first in 1974, and became highly belligerent. Its saber-rattling forced Pakistan to come out of the nuclear closet and conduct tests of its own, declaring to the world that it possessed nuclear weapons for its defence and deterrence of war-mongers but it harbours no aggressive designs against any one.Operation Prakaram
In December 2001 taking advantage of the international environment India carried out massive deployment along its border with Pakistan to coerce Pakistan to regress on Kashmir issue and accept Indian hegemony. Pakistan’s response was swift and timely Due to superior strategy and national resolve response India had to retreat and withdraw its forces unconditionally. Pakistan Army and the nation are firm in their resolve to root out terrorism and are playing a major role in the efforts to counter the menace and making Pakistan a safe and secure land for its citizens, where people from every walk of life, religion and creed, dwell in peace and harmony. The Army has played a major role in improving the socio-economic conditions of the tribal belt and Balochistan and has uplifted them through a sustained focus on its human resource development, education, health, communication infrastructure and poverty reduction.  The armed forces of Pakistan have always responded to any calamity, natural or man made, to help not only Pakistanis in distress but humanity world wide; whether it was the massive earthquake that caused havoc and devastation in Kashmir and northern areas of Pakistan. The Tsunami in Far East or floods in Turkey or cyclone in Bangladesh, Pakistan Army has responded with all its strength and missionary zeal to aid mankind. Contribution towards national development by the armed forces has not been confined to the defence sector; Pakistan Armed Forces in general and Pakistan Army in particular have contributed to building roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other basic amenities.  
The Karakoram Highway is a clear example of a daring feat of construction in one of the most treacherous terrains of the world. Restructuring of the Sukkur Barrage was a challenging task, which the engineers of Pakistan Army successfully accomplished. Pakistan Army has never demurred from lending a helping hand whenever asked to do so. It has performed multifarious tasks in the aid of civil power, whenever the occasion arose, whether it was duties during census or elections, anti-dacoit actions, tracking ghost schools, medical aid, and evacuation of flood, fire or train accident victims. Its Cantonments provide sanctity and security along with job opportunities and basic amenities like education, medical and sports facilities to local civilians residing in the vicinity.
Armed Forces organizations like SCO, FWO and NLC play a major role in providing logistics and laying the communication infrastructure in the most demanding of terrains. Sports and the armed forces go hand in hand. Since the armed forces remain fit and pay a lot of emphasis on physical activities, they are the backbone of every physical sport in the country.  From providing the infrastructure for sports facilities to participants and sponsors, the contribution of the armed forces in the field of sports and bringing glory to Pakistan in national and international events is unparalleled.  War against terror 9/11 ushered a fresh challenge for Pakistan. Pakistan unconditionally joined the Global War on Terror (GWOT) since it was in its own interest as the bane of terror was right at its doorstep and could have had severe repercussions on Pakistan, if it had been unchecked. Seven years on, Pakistan’s track record depicts that it has contributed enormously towards eradicating the menace of terrorism. Pakistan Army, which has borne the brunt of the GWOT, was at a handicap since it had never been exposed to war against insurgency, or fought a faceless enemy, battled against the scourge of suicide bombers, saboteurs, seditionists and terrorists. It adapted to the new ordeal with fresh gusto and gave a good account of itself despite being faced with heavy odds and at times uncalled for criticism by other allies in the GWOT. Pakistan Army has sacrificed over 1100 personnel in its combat against insurgency but apprehended/exterminated twice the number of terrorists and thwarted hundreds of terror attacks, operating in some of the most hostile terrain in the world.

1965 War - A saga of Indian defeat
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.”. Above 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 deliberate 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.

Saga of 6th September
Wg Cdr Tahir Jaffery

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. September 6th is celebrated by the Nation as the Defence Day of Pakistan to commemorate Pakistan’s finest hour when our Air Force frustrated a surprise attack of its numerically superior Indian Air Force.
On September 6, 1965, the people of Pakistan stood united as one’ solid edifice to meet the on slaught of an enemy that chose the cover of darkness to achieve its heinous ends of occupying our motherland. The spirit of 65 is the strength of characters, the firm resolution, and the fortitude that overwhelmed every Pakistani to stand up to be counted as a defender of its homeland. The enemy didn’t know which nation it had challenged. On our lips trembled the Kalimah of “La Ilaha ilaAllah”. Our whole being was filled with the mercurial spirit. The soldiers, sailors and airmen fought gallantly, even making the supreme sacrifice of their lives. The glorious trail of velour emblazoned by them shall remain inscribed in our history in golden words. Songs, documentaries, discussions, programmes and films immortalized their brave deeds and will continue to be narrated with pleasure and pride. It’s the spirit of 65 war which filled every common person, and is but needs to be re-inculcated. Poets embodied with the spirit of 65 rendered anthems in a manner that chilled every Pakistani to meet the challenges undauntedly. Musicians composed such melodious tunes that charge the spirit of afresh. Singers crooned the martial songs with such zest that it filled the soul with the spirit of sacrifice. Formers, labourers, artisans and common folk turned, up for military and defence duties. When Pakistan was attacked by a crafty enemy in the dead of the night, it was only lightly defended, but the brave people of Pakistan marched to the front armed with only spears, sticks and rods to shield their beloved homeland. Control of the air was, therefore, vital for un-hindered air support to land operations. Relentless battering by PAF had left the IAF mauled in the battle of air superiority. Having suffered several times more aircraft lasses at the hands of an Air Force that was much smaller, the mood in the IAF was unquestionably distraught. PAF pilots thus found it opportune to fly CAPs with impunity, to the extent of setting up station on the border and sometimes even inside the enemy territory. The lose of four vampires on the opening day of the 65 war was a major blow to the morale of the IAF. A grudge fight was, therefore, planned and the ramble Gnat was chosen as the most suitable fighter. Its small size, good turning and ability and fast acceleration were seen to be the lethal attributes vis-à-vis PAF’s main fighter, the Saber (F-86). When the Sabers reached Lahore, they had dependable ground radar scanning through the hazy sky. A tight crossovers formation also helped keep a double check on their tails as the Sabers circled over the historic city. The Pakistani nation had seen earlier its fighters’ inaction when No. 19 squadron had administered a supreme work over to the armoured columns that threatened our homeland. Independent observers agree on the actual number of aircraft shot down with figures ranging from as high as 3:1 in Pakistan’ s favour to 2:1 in India’s as claimed by Indian Air Force. ln the wikipedia, while analyzing the war of 1965, its written that invasion of Pakistan by the India was a strategic blunder. India failed to analyse the real potential of Pakistan Air Force which resulted into Indian defeat. The war lasted for 17 days and ended with the glorious victory for Pakistan. The entire nation is proud of the supreme success of its armed forces and especially of Pakistan Air Force in the war of 1965. We hold in great esteem the valour and gallantry of our warriors and our profoundly indebted our shaheeds for showing unto us the path of ultimate glory. We, in the Defence Forces of Pakistan are honour bound to follow their illustrious example and remain always ready to foil the enemy designs with similar spirit and passion. The air warriors of Pakistan are committed to ensure the defence of our aerial boundaries. We are focusing to maintain a minimum but credible deterrence level. To modernize our Air Force, to be able to face the dictates of the time squarely, all ranks of the Air Force are alive and working vigilantly. The spirit of the 6th September symbolizes the “operational will” of the Pakistan Air Force against any hegemony. It proves that Pakistan will not be deterred by the size of the aggressor when defending the integrity of its land.