1965 Indo-Pak War – Operation Gibralter
By Lt. Col. (Retd) D.V. Rajwade
In 1964, Pakistan started gauging, determining and evaluating India`s military preparations. The Pakistani President Ayub Khan was to retire in few years and his seven years of rule had achieved nothing. The 1964 riots against Hindus made 7lakh refugees come to India. Nehru had died and Lal Bahadur Shastri became India`s new Prime Minister.
American President Eisenhower promised Pakistan 200 latest powerful tanks, a squadron of latest XF104 (single engine supersonic interceptor aircrafts) and 4 squadrons of F86 (most modern fighter aircrafts) which were pitted against India`s vintage light tanks and discarded GNAT fighters. But India had brave young resourceful Officers and Jawans who proved America and the Pakis wrong. In the world`s greatest tank battle fought in 1965 Indian troops destroyed Pak`s back bone. So did our Air Force with their old GNATS. By 1965, there were 1,365 cease fire violations despite UN Resolutions. Interestingly in March 1964, at the Institute of Defence Analysis, Washington DC, in which Harvard University also participated, the Americans came to the conclusion that PAK will further annihilate Indian Army totally, as set out in Sydney Griffith`s book.
Ayub Khan was getting desperate and itching to test the new American gifts. On 9th April 1965 attacked Sardar Post in Kutch, claiming part of Kutch. Sardar Post was held by Armed Police with no Army anywhere as it was never a disputed area. Hats Off to the Police who fought bravely and killed 28 Pakis. On 28th April 1965, Indian PM Lal Bahadur Shastri in Parliament challenged Pak and demanded that they follow the UN agreement. On 1st May 1965, Ayub Khan played yet another dirty trick. He wanted peace talks with India!! (Vajpayee and N.Modi are still trying?). Yet violations continued.
On 29th June 1965 under leadership of Harold Wilson, PM of England, Pak and India signed a peace agreement underlining three specifics: 1) Falling back to original position by Pak troops. 2) Cease Fire from 1st July 1965. 3) Appointing an international commission to discuss all issues.
Ayub Khan, knowing the Russian-Chinese rift, befriended China despite the fact that Pak was member of SEATO (South East Asian Treaty Organisation) which was against China. In return, he gifted 2000 sq.km. of Indian territory of Aksai Chin to China. This was a knave move by Pak resulting in an additional front for Indian Army with an increased demand on troops, snow clothing, special forages, heavy war like stores, development of roads and communication for this part which is totally frozen for 6 months due to high altitude.
Ayub`s Misdemeanor (I call it felony) – Operation Gibraltar
From the above, the reader will know the failure of our intelligence all along since August 1947. This time again in 1965 it was unpardonable not to have any information even after Pak occupied posts on Kargil and North of Gulmarg in Kashmir. It is on record that: 1)USA had cautioned Indian government and 2)Sheikh Abdulla also knew and Pak expected him to create internal disturbances.
Earlier our Chief of Army, Gen. JitendraNathChoudhary had visited my Regiment while on his way to recce vital areas in J&K. He had asked me what problems I faced. I told him that I faced a shortage of men and experienced officers. The only other officer with me was an officer with only 6 years of service and that too he was my Medical Officer! Others had couple of years of service.
On 4th August 1965, North of Gulmarg, a boy (Din Mohd) came running down the hill to report suspicious movements to the Police. Similarly about the same time, Mohddin a wood cutter collecting fire wood from the forest encountered suspicious people and reported it to the local police. It was only after this the senior police officers found out about `Pakistan`s serious invasion`.
By now my regiment was deployed near a strategic bridge on River MunnawarTawi on road Jammu-Nawshera-Rajori-Poonch. A very vital bridge which was the means of communication to all troops on Western side of this river. Our troops were facing the Eastern border of Pakistan along River Jhelum and Pakistan`s strategic road to its capital Islamabad. My Regiments task was to 1) Give artillery support to the Brigade Group around Naushera on the hills of Kalidhar Ranges. 2) Protect this bridge.3) Protect ammunition dump in the area.
On 1st August, I asked my Brigade Commander for half days leave to visit Jammu to meet my mother(aged 75 years) and her two sisters about 70 years of age who were on their way to Srinagar to join the pilgrimage to Amarnath. After getting the permission, I went and met my mother. An hour later, while returning to Nawshera, as I was nearing my base camp, I saw a truck from my Regiment approaching me, a Hawaldar with a machine gun watching through the cupola (a port hole through which to observe) of the truck. I asked him the cause of this provocation. He said our base camp was surrounded (top hills) by Pakistanis and the Brigade Commander told them to bring me back safe, the road was being cleared and we could reach the base camp safely. On reaching my command post I rang up the Brigade Commander. He called me for briefing. I was told that some heights in area of our operation were occupied by two PAKforces, one to the north of my position called Babar and to the south most strategic area called Gaznavi. In this briefing, my regiment was to clear the hills surrounding my base. I called my officers and jco`s. Since we in the artillery are not trained for such tasks I still took the challenge without hesitation. I divided the Regiment in six sections/platoons. The principle being each section was commanded by one senior person who was quite experienced and had plenty of initiative. So the section commanded by a young officer was given an experienced Subedar and Hawaldar and those who were capable were given young fresh troops. When I found we were very short of experienced people for the job, I had to command one section myself; my troops comprised the Regimental religious teacher, education officer, cooks, barbers, cobbler, tailor, signal operators, vehicle mechanics! The Medical Officer with his detachment (including sick) was to control my Command Post and ensure security of the camp.
When aggressive patrolling started, the enemy vacated some positions. However at one vital height, Lt. Garewal (Gyari) reported stiff firing on his wireless. He needed backup. I shifted my section and quickly reached his assembly area. Gyari, the brave boy just 21 years mounted the attack. Pakis surrendered and we captured 1 major and 13 other ranks. On bringing them to the base, they were interrogated by our Brigade Intelligence Officer. The Major agreed to give all information provided he was not hurt as he was married and had a small baby home. But Paki Jawans were tough, they wouldn`t reveal a thing saying it is God`s wish, I cannot sin.
In another area, when my Jawans saw some movement in a sugarcane farm, they assumed it was a wild boar and ‘readymade dinner’. The jawans cocked their rifles and went closer. They found an abandoned old muslim lady who shouted at my troops ‘Kafran menu hath nalaga. Main nahee piyungi paani tere hath’. We then got two Muslim boys to handle her. While I was involved in the operation, I forgot all about my mother. Two weeks later, I got a letter from my mother from Pathankot saying their trip was successful but 95% of the pilgrims had deserted. She was now stuck in Pathankot railway station till the movement of the Military troops was completed. In the meantime, she and her sisters bought sweets and offered them to Jawans arriving. In the last para of the letter she wrote “(1) me and my sisters are well qualified in first aid and we would like to take care of the troops (2) Lastly, if I come to know that if you ever show signs of cowardice, I will be the most unhappy mother, yet take care.” I showed this letter to my Brigadier, he said it`s typical of a Maharashtrian mother.
Friends that is leadership and sacrifice. My hats off to the Jawans and young officers. They will sacrifice for their country, the land in which they spread their holy blood. The politicians from top to bottom eat tobacco and spit on it. And the Babus-kya kahenge, cause none of them want to send their children to such lovely and highly dignified services.
“SOLDIERS NEVER DIE OR RETIRE”.
“THEY ONLY BECOME IMMORTAL”