India-Pakistan War of 1965

Yet another war between India and Pakistan was fought in 1965. It was the second conflict between the two countries over the state of Jammu and Kashmir. Other than J&K, this time Pakistan raised a boundary dispute in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat.

There were clashes between both the armies in the Rann of Kutch from January 1965 onwards. In J&K Pakistan army sent Mujahideen forces in large numbers to take over Kashmir. Both nations increased their hostilities towards each other and finally a war broke out in September 1965. Pakistan was thoroughly defeated in this war.

International community consisting of USA and Russia prevented any further escalation and the war came to an end on 23 September 1965. In this war the Air Forces of both the countries participated and a number of aerial combats were seen. Former New York Times reporter Arif Jamal wrote in his book Shadow War - This time, India's victory was nearly total: India accepted cease-fire only after it had occupied 740 square miles, though Pakistan had made marginal gains of 210 square miles of territory. Despite the obvious strength of the Indian wins, both countries claim to have been victorious.

War between India and Pakistan (1965)

The war of 1965 was a combination of the 1947 Kashmir dispute and a territorial claim in the area of the Rann of Kutch by Pakistan. It was Pakistan which started the war.

Rann of Kutch

Like other states Kutch was also a princely State in India. The marshy land of Rann of Kutch is part of Gujarat. The Pakistani Government claimed some 9000 square kilometers of the Rann of Kutch as being part of the province of Sindh. In 1956, the Indian government established a security post in order to stop the possible infiltration by Pakistanis.

Following this, the Pakistani Government protested and expressed the desire to have a peaceful solution to the problem. By 1960, several rounds of talks were held between India and Pakistan in this regard. But all of them failed.

What happened in the Rann of Kutch in 1965?

In January 1965 Pakistan sent its troops into the Rann of Kutch and established a track of 20 miles. They also set up a post at a place called Kanjerkote. Subsequently Pakistan was often aggressive in this area by firing mortars and artillery guns. A forward post was established by CRPF in the border and was called Sardar Post.

This post saw heavy attacks by the Pakistani army but was always beaten back. They suffered heavy casualties too. India referred the matter to the United Nations (UN). A protest was also lodged with the Pakistan government.

On 25th April 1965 Pakistan once again attacked Indian Sardar Post in Rann of Kutch area. Though India could back her claim over Rann of Kutch with historical facts, Pakistan could not produce any evidence supporting their claim over the area. The British Prime Minister talked to both countries and requested to stop the war.

An international committee was set up to resolve the dispute. Both countries agreed to accept the report of the committee. At 6.00 am on 30th June 1965 a ceasefire was declared. The International Committee gave India 90% of the area and only 10% was given to Pakistan.

The ceasefire came about because of:

• The resistance put up by the Indian armed forces.
• The involvement of the British.
• Rainy season which flooded the entire area.
  

Jammu and Kashmir

What happened in Jammu and Kashmir in 1965?

The next step after failure in the Rann of Kutch, by Pakistan, was to cause trouble in Kashmir. Past 1962 war with China, Pakistan improved relations with China. It now thought that it could now defeat Indian Army as it has not done well against China. In August 1965 about 30000 well armed Pakistani infiltrators crossed the borders under the protective fire cover of Pakistani regular army, and entered into Jammu and Kashmir. They had the support of local guerillas of Pak. Pakistan thought that the people of kashmir were not happy with India and these fighters could cause a rebellion in Kashmir.

These guerilla infiltrators were the Mujahideen and Razackars. They were divided into 10 Divisions under regular army commanders. The Operation was code named as Op Gibralter by the Pakistani Army. On 5th August 1965, two groups of Gibralter forces crossed the line of ceasefire and entered India.

On 9th August 1965, about 100 infiltrators attacked Poonch for several days with heavy fire power but were defeated by India. This infiltration was confirmed
by the U.N Military Observer in India and Pakistan. India was left with no option but to retaliate. On 15th August 1965 the Indian forces crossed the line of ceasefire and occupied the Pakistan position at Kargil and the Haji Pir pass. This action by India completely stopped the infiltration.

The Real War

Pakistan first started the war by sending army troops wearing local clothes to look like civilians. But they were well armed with rifles and machine guns. They were supported in the attack by guns firing from the Pakistani side of the border.

Indian Response

In the early hours of 1st September 1965, Pakistan started Operation Grand Slam with artillery firing across the cease fire line in the Chamb sector in Kashmir. The plan was to capture the important towns of Akhnoor and Jammu. The first attacks came in Chamb because it was a plain country with mountainous terrain on the west and the river Chenab on the east.

Pakistan used armor and heavy artillery in this area, whereas it was unable to induct heavy armour and artillery in the area because of a weak bridge across river Chenab. In the intitial attack Pakistani army could enter 5 miles deep into India.

On 2nd September Pakistani aircraft started attacking Chamb-Jaurian road. This was opposed by the Indian Brigade all by themselves without any artillery support.

The Pakistani tanks rolled into India without much effective opposition from the Indian armed forces which did not have any heavy armed tank forces on their side. In order to capture Akhnoor, Pakistanis fiercely attacked the Indian side. Their next step appeared to be a massive thrust from Sialkot. Aim was to capture Jammu and block the entire Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh.

Meanwhile the Indian air force was called in. It was a quick decision taken by Sh.Y.B. Chavan, Indian Defence Minister to give air support to the Indian army in the Chamb sector. The Vampires and Mystere fighter planes of the IAF attacked the enemy tanks, vehicles, and troops with maximum fire. 13 tanks, 2 artillery guns and 62 motor vehicles were destroyed. And it also stopped the Pakistani attack. The Pakistani Air force was soon called out for counter offensive action against IAF.

Pakistan Airforce used the American made Sabre Jets F96 and F104 Starfighters. It was considered much superior to Indian Vampires and Mysteres. It was also believed that the newly introduced fighter plane - the GNAT, was not suitable against the Sabre. But the skills of the Indian pilots were so great in the mid air attacks that Sabre aircrafts were soon shot down. The intensive Air attack in the Chamb- Jaurian sector lasted from the 1st to 6th of September 1965.

Other Areas of War

The Indian army launched massive attacks in Punjab in the areas close to Amritsar and Faridkot on 06 September 1965. Airforce played an important role in the attack and destroyed many tanks and aircrafts of the Pakistani forces.

Lahore Sector

On 8th of September 1965, the Indian forces attacked areas all along the western borders from Pathankot to Lahore. The aim was to capture Lahore and destroy maximum weapons and equipment of the Pakistani army. Indian Army achieved great success in all the battles fought in this Sector. A number of soldiers and officers showed bravery and fought gallantly.

Number of towns in Pakistan were captured. About 240 Pakistani tanks were destroyed in Sialkot area alone. In all about 460 Sq Km of territory was captured. Indian Army reached out shirts of the town.

Rajasthan Sector

India opened a third front in Rajasthan sector to tie down the enemy forces in Sind. 11 Infantry Division carried operations on Barmer-Hyderabad (Pakistan) axis of this sector. Gadra was occupied in the first sweep on 8 September and Pak Rangers were driven out from many more areas of the desert.

Role of Air Force

The IAF gave substantial support to the Army in fighting the enemy on many fronts. On the first day of war Indian Vampires and Mysteres struck heavy blows on Pak armour, advancing on the Chhamb-Jaurian axis. Subsequently, IAF Canberras raided major Pakistan Air Force bases at Sargodha and Chaklala at night.

Pakistani bases at Akwal, Peshawar, Kohat, Chak Jhumra and Risaiwala were also raided. The Mysteres were employed primarily in the ground attack role whereas the Hunters were utilised for bombing and close support missions, as well as flying combat air patrols. The Gnat squadrons proved very effective in defending against enemy aircrafts. The astounding success of the Gnat against the Pak F-86 earned it the title "Sabre Slayer". During this conflict India lost 35 aircraft as against 73 by Pakistan.

Ceasefire

The UN Security Council took a serious view of the situation right from the start of the war. As early as September 2nd 1965 the UN Secretary General U Thant appealed to both India and Pakistan to stop the war. It also urged both the governments to cooperate with the UN Military Observer Team.

As part of the negotiations the Secretary General met both the PM Lal Bahadur Shastri and the President Ayub Khan, and as a result the Security Council on 20th September 1965 passed a resolution unanimously on a clear cut ceasefire. On 27th September 1965 a mutual ceasefire agreement came into effect.

On the eve of the ceasefire India occupied nearly 700 sq miles of Pakistani territory. Pakistan captured 196 Sq. miles. During the 22 days of war Pakistan lost 417 tanks as against India's 123 tanks. The Pakistani loss in the air, was 73 aircrafts against India's 35. The figures of losses are not accurate because each country will claim a different figure against the other.

However, it is fair to conclude that Pakistan lost much more than India despite being numerically better in tanks, aircrafts and better American weapons. It is not the weapon but the man behind the weapon that matters.