Wars
have a very important role in history. A single battle defines the future of
the entire humanity. This is the major reason why every nation celebrates its
triumph over the enemy forces as glorious chapter in its history. It is this
same spirit, to inculate patriotism in the minds of the future generations
prompted the Narendra Modi Govt to celebrate the Golden Jubilee (50th year) of
the victory in the Indo-Pak war of 1965. Here, I intend to give a brief description
of the 1965 war and remember the brave hearts who laid down their today for our
tomorrow.
THE
PRELUDE
In
order to understand the political scenario of 1965 war, it is really necessary
that we look back to 1962. The humiliation that we suffered at Chinese hands in
1962 still haunts us. India’s national pride was greatly hurt and our people
were demoralized. This was what emboldened General Ayub Khan, the President of
Pakistan, to start the war with the ‘weak’ India with the aim of conquering the
whole of Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan’s confidence was also boosted by the
Chinese support as well as the supply of American military supplies, mainly the
Patton tanks and Sabre jets.
Pakistan
attempted an infiltration in April 1965 in Rann of Kutch along Indo-Pak border
in order to test the reaction from the Indian leadership, mainly the Indian
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri,
who
was perceived to ‘weak’ by Ayub Khan who believed
the Indian Army would be unable to defend itself
against a quick military campaign in the disputed territory of Kashmir as the Indian military had suffered a disastrous loss to China in 1962. Pakistan expected the Kashmiri population to be discontented with the Indian Govt and planned a revolt with the help of their so-called sympathizers. The Hazratbal disappearance (Dec 27, 1963) and the resultant riots in Kashmir convinced Pakistan that the infiltrators would be supported by the Kashmiris and it could then be presented as an internal revolt and not external aggression.
THE
WAR BEGINS
Codenamed
Operation Gibraltar, On 5 August 1965 between
26,000 and 33,000 Pakistani soldiers crossed the Line of Control, dressed as Kashmiri locals headed for various areas within Kashmir. Indian forces, tipped off by local populace, crossed the ceasefire line on 15 August. The Pak plan failed miserably with the Indian forces capturing Haji Pir Pass, deep inside the Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (POK). It was then Pakistan attempted Operation Grand Slam, the counter-attack to capture Akhnoor, a vital town with the aim to cut off Jammu and Kashmir from the rest of India. Pakistan also launched a failed attempt - a thrust from Khemkaran towards the bridge over the Beas to the rear of Amritsar. Fortunately, the fierece Indian resistance frustrated the plans of the enemy and resulted in the complete disaster for the Pakistani army at Asal Uttar which came to be known as the 'Graveyard of Pakistani tanks'.
INDIAN
RETALIATION – THE ADVANCE TOWARDS LAHORE
Now,
our then Prime Minister Shastriji decided that time has come for the Indian
Army to cross the International Border and attack the heartland of the enemy –
Pakistani Punjab. Shastri ordered the Army chiefs to treat the attack on
Kashmir as attack on India and ordered to strike hard at Pakistan at the time
of our choosing.
The
Indian army crossed the International Border and swiftly marched towards
Lahore, destroying the Pakistani armoured columns. Pakistan had suffered a
clear defeat by then with their largest city, Lahore, in danger of falling to
the Indian Army. Pakistani morale was down and it was later known that their
army had used up more than 80% of their ammunition, compared to India’s 14%. The
so-called invincible M-48 Patton tanks were completely destroyed or captured,
resulting in humiliation for the Americans who supplied military hardware to
Pakistan.
By the
time of ceasefire in Sep 22, 1965, the Pakis had suffered a humiliating
thrashing at the hands of India. The Pakistani military's ill-founded claim that their 'martial race' of soldiers could defeat 'Hindu India' in the war was completely shattered.
Now it's apparent to everybody that India is going to emerge
as an Asian power in its own right.
- TIME MAGAZINE October 1965 Edition.
THE
CEASEFIRE & TASHKENT DECLARATION
The
International organizations and the super powers – United States, Soviet Union
and China (which wholeheartedly supported Pakistan) pressurized India to stop
the advance and end the war, mainly in order to save Pakistan from complete
destruction. It is a really sad fact that we decided to stop our advance into
the enemy territory and wasted our chance to finish off our most dreaded enemy
founded on the basis of religious intolerance. India also returned Haji Pir to
Pakistan as a part of Taskent Declaration and that fateful conference came to
an end with the death of Shastriji there on 11th January 1966.
The
most disturbing lesson that we learn from 1965 war is that our political
leadership were not able to use our military victories to achieve ever-last
peace deals and strategic advantage on the diplomatic table. The gains that we
obtained on the battlefield after heroic sacrifices of our brave soldiers, fettered
away on the discussion and diplomacy. I even now feel, we Indians lack killer
instinct to finish off the enemy completely. An unfortunate fact indeed!!
Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, hero of 1965 War.
AFTERMATH
The
most important positive effect of the 1965 war was that India was able to retrieve
its national honour and self-respect it lost after the humiliation in 1962. The
Indian people united as one for the sake of the nation, leaving aside all their
differences on the basis of caste, creed or language. Lal Bahadur Shastri’s
slogan ‘Jai Jawan Jai Kisan’ electrified the nation and hence was a glorious
hour in the history of Independent India. More importantly, 1965 paved way to
India’s total victory over Pakistan in 1971, resulting in the birth of a new
nation – Bangladesh.
On
other hand, Pakistan entered a period of economic decline and later its humiliating
of East Pakistan in 1971 and hence started its journey to become a failed state
and the epic centre of global terrorism in the 21st century.
OUR
ASSESSMENT OF LOSSES
It is a laughable fact that many of the Pakistanis think that they had won the 1965 war. But as we see, the facts speak for themselves. Let us assess the losses of both sides for getting a clear picture.
Indian gains and losses Pak gains and losses
2,862 soldiers killed. 5,800+ soldiers killed.
35 aircraft lost. 73 aircraft lost.
100 tanks lost. 450+ tanks destroyed or captured.
1,920 sq km territory gained 540 sq km territory gained
Moreover, Pakistan failed miserably in its military objectives to capture Kashmir, while India made significant gains on Lahore front and achieved its aim of destruction of Pakistani military ability.
Once again I wish my fellow Indians the Golden Jubilee of this glorious victory. May we learn lessons from the history and use it for the future.
JAI HIND!!
Once again I wish my fellow Indians the Golden Jubilee of this glorious victory. May we learn lessons from the history and use it for the future.
JAI HIND!!
REFERENCES
