Battles of the Indo-Pak Wars

 

1965 War,

 

Battle of Chawinda, was the largest tank battle since WWII and is still the largest since that conflict pitting perhaps 2000 tanks on either side. 2 Indian Corps, with 6 Divisions and other indept Brigades, faced a Pakistani task group cented on the 6th and 1st Armoured Divisions, and 2 mechanized divisions and various other independent brigades. The battle developed into a slugfest with as one foreign observer put it "tactical prowess being noticable only by its absence". the Indian advance was beaten back.

 

 

The Indian Parachute regiment has the disticntion of being the only Regiment to penetrate Dacca's defense during the East Pakistan Campaign of the '71 war. This drop which took place without any opposition helped to clear the road for the general collape of Pakistani Forces in east pakistan.

 

Conflict in the Rann of Kutch: A trial of strength

By Lt Gen (retd) Kamal Matinuddin

The Rann of Kutch situated in the Southeast of Pakistan is an inland sea. However most of the upper part drives up in the summer months. During this period, all kinds of vehicles can move across. The northern part of the Rann is bordered by the great Thar desert and the ancient coast line forms the divide between the Rann and the desert.

The Thar desert is comprised of extensive longitudinal dunes which are 3 to 15 kilometers long and have a relief of 20 to 100 meters. No roads existed in 1965 but four wheeled vehicles could move with some difficulty, along the camel and cart tracks, which intersected each other in the wide-open spaces. Small-inhabited areas dotted the area. The larger ones being Chachro, Mithi Islamkot, and Diplo.

The Rann of Kutch had been the subject of dispute between the Kutch and the province of Sindh even before the partition of India. In 1948, Pakistan laid claim to this area. The Indian government did not accept the claim saying that since the Kutch state had acceded to India the whole of the Rann of Kutch was part of India. The only dispute was the demarcation of the boundary of 1914. Pakistan claimed the area north of the 24th parallel and some area south of it basing it on the Thalweg principle according to which the centre of the water channel or sea is considered to be the boundary between two states adjoining the water in between.

In 1951, the Sindh Police Rangers established a few posts along with the southern edge of the Pakistani side of the Rann. A track about 16 kilometers south of the custom post began to be used for patrolling by them. A year later the Indians began encroaching and claimed Chad Bet north of the 24th parallel as lying in their territory. They, however, withdrew their security elements soon thereafter. On 24 February, 1956, a company of the Indian Reserve Police occupied, Chad Bet again. They also started established posts at Sardar, Vigokot, Biar Bet and Karim Shahi all north of the 24th parallel hence within what Pakistan considered to be it's territory.

This time Pakistan complained to India that their border security force had over run the Pakistani post at Chad Bet but the Indians took no notice of the complaint. In October 1960, it was decided that he facts of the dispute be further examined and till then neither party should disturbed the status quo. Swaran Singh speaking at the Lok Sabha in March 1965 accepted that the Rann of Kutch was disputed territory as the area had not been demarcated.

For nine years Pakistan had controlled the northern half of the Rann and maintained a strong police post at Chad Bet.

So when the Indian patrols started probing forward and occupied Mara, Rahim ki Bazar, Ding, Kanjarkot and Surai all north, the 24th Parallel 51 Brigade was given orders not to allow violation of own territory by the Indians. With the regular army now in support the Indus rangers preoccupied Kanjarkot.

During the course of the patrolling the border, the Desert Ranges, in March 1965 found that the Indians had established two posts on the Pakistani side of the border. On being asked to demolish the newly constructed posts, the Indians claimed that they were on Indian Territory hence they will stay put.

Negotiations on the exact demarcation line did not bear any fruit.

Using the excuse of a tri-service exercise (Arrow Head), the Indians brought in 31 and 67 Infantry Brigades in area Karim Shahi - Kavda. The IAF and the Indian aircraft carrier Vikrant, supported by other navel vessels, also moved into the gulf. On 8/9 April, the Indians attacked the Pakistan post at Ding without any provocation. Pakistan Rangers acted to repel the aggression.

The Pakistani Government then decided to use force to evict the Indian para-military troops from Sardar Post and Biarbet. General Musa in reported to have stated "the Indians cannot challenge the Pakistan army and get away with it".

Major General Tikka Khan, Officer Commanding 8 Division, received a warning order on 3 March to be ready for a military action in the Rann of Kutch.

8 Division consisted of four infantry brigades. 6 Brigade was under the command of Brigadier Iftikhar Janjua; 21 Brigade was commanded by Brigadier Qazi Wahid, 51 Brigade operated under Brigadier K M Azhar and Brigadier S M Ismail was in command of 52 Brigade.

The Indians were occupying Sardar post by two companies of the Central Reserves Police, armed and equipped on the same lines as a regular army unit. The total strength of the enemy was approximately that of a battalion. With the rest of 31 and 67 Indian infantry brigades closely behind. Indian 50 para brigade was also in the vicinity around Daramsala.

The task of eliminating Sardar post was given to 51 Brigade. The brigade was supported by 14 Field Regiment and 83 Mortar Battery Brigadier Azhar concentrated his three battalions at Rahim ki Bazar except for one company of 18 Punjab Regiment which was at Vingi.

The attack commenced at 0200 hours on 9 April with 16 Punjab and 8 Frontier Force regiments in the lead. Both succeeded in capturing part of their objective after suffering quite a few casualties, unfortunately the troops had lost their direction and had not quite reached Sardar post. 6 Baluch was then pushed in but the attack was called of as further progress was becoming quite expensive.

6 Brigade which had been moved down from Quetta earlier now joined the attack. Aggressive patrolling continued. On 23 April Brigadier Iftikhar Janjua, known for his boldness and one who inspired confidence among his man by being well up in front during the heat of the battle, ordered 4 Punjab to capture point 84 by first activity around Chad bet. Since the progress of 6 Punjab was slow 2 frontier force was directed to join them. By first light the battalion reached it's objective without suffering too many casualties. 2 Frontier Force later attacked Biar Bet along with a squadron of 12 Cavalry. Biar Bet was captured by 0600 hours 26 April.

The task of evicting the enemy from Pakistan territory was achieved. Speaking at the United Nations on 28 April to then foreign minister, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, informed the members that on 18 April, when it became clear that India planned to occupy the entire Rann of Kutch, Pakistan's forces acted in self defence and restored the situation.

By the end of April, all was quiet on the Rann of Kutch front with 6 Brigade and 51 Brigade safely deployed at border and with 52 Brigade in the rear in Jatrai and Pakistan in firm control of it's territory.

In the meantime, negotiations for a cease-fire in the Rann had begun. India at first rejected the Pakistani proposal but later agreed to the withdrawal of forces from that area.

At the Commonwealth Conference held in London in June 1965, both government accepted the request of Harold Wilson, to stop the fighting. The cease-fire agreement was formally signed on 30 June and the issue was referred to an independent 3 man Tribunal headed by a nominee of the United Nations. Pakistan was represented by the Iranian Prime Minister, Nasarollah Intezam and India by Ales Bebler, judge of the constitutional court of Yugoslavia. The decision of the Tribunal was to be binding on both parties.

www.jang.com.pk/thenews/index.html

Battle of Longewal is interesting and quite a bit of information available on it as there are movies made about it.

 

What exactly is your maqsad?  Which war are you talking about?  Are you sure chemicals were used, can you make your claim stick?