On 6th September, we pay tribute to the armed forces and honor the war martyrs.
September 6th, celebrated as Defence Day in Pakistan, is a day of great historical significance. On this day, the nation remembers one of its pivotal events when Pakistan’s brave armed forces vigorously defended their homeland against Indian forces during the 1965 war.
The second major conflict between Pakistan and India was the 1965 War, which commenced on August 5, 1965, and concluded on September 22, 1965. The conflict primarily occurred along the border between the two nations and lasted for seventeen consecutive days, ultimately ending through diplomatic intervention by the international community and the signing of the Tashkent Agreements between both states.
The primary reason behind the 1965 war was the state of Kashmir and Jammu. In 1947, when Pakistan and India were formed as two separate nations, Kashmir shared borders with both. Kashmir had a majority Muslim population but was governed by a Hindu leader who decided to align with India, going against the will of the majority population. This initial decision led to the first war in 1947-1948, which concluded after diplomatic efforts by the United Nations.
On 6th September , 1965, Indian forces launched an attack on Pakistan’s borders in an attempt to halt the advance of the Pakistani military into the Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) of India. The areas primarily targeted during this attack were Sialkot, Lahore and the arid regions of Sindh.
While the ground and air forces of Pakistan were engaged in fierce combat against the Indian forces, the Pakistan Navy initiated a large-scale operation known as “Dwarka,” with the codename “Operation Somnath.”
Under the cloak of darkness on the night of 8th September, six frigates from Pakistan’s Navy boldly ventured approximately 200 nautical miles, roughly equivalent to 350 kilometers, into Indian waters. This audacious mission was executed with remarkable precision. Adding a layer of complexity to this operation was the presence of the submarine PNS Ghazi, stealthily lurking at a depth of 400 feet beneath the waves.
It’s worth mentioning that Dwarka is often regarded as the 18th attack on the Somnath temple, as this Hindu place of worship is situated in the same coastal region.
The initiation of this operation by the Pakistan Navy was driven by necessity, as fighter jets from India on the warfront were receiving crucial technical support from the Dwarka radar.
Following the Pakistani Navy’s targeting of the enemy, their initial focus was on the Indian high-frequency radar. Subsequently, they launched relentless attacks on key installations such as the naval air station, lighthouse, and other sensitive sites. This bold offensive by the Pakistan Navy left the significantly larger Indian Navy feeling completely powerless, compelling them to witness their own destruction.
In a conversation with The Express Tribune, Vice Admiral (retired) Irfan Ahmad Hilal emphasized the importance of the Dwarka Operation for the nation’s defense, as the Pakistan Air Force was facing considerable pressure in Kashmir due to the opening of the warfront.
He explained that the operation, which required a swift and effective strategy, had two primary objectives. The first objective was to eliminate the radar station in Dwarka, while the second aim was to create conditions that would allow Pakistan to effectively block the enemy’s sea routes, thus ensuring a robust defense.
He added that all the vessels in the Pakistan Navy’s fleet were fully operational.
On the military front, the 16 Punjab Regiment of the Pakistan Army valiantly defended Lahore. Remarkably, only two companies from this regiment faced off against a formidable force of 36 enemy companies for a grueling 12-day period, successfully preventing the enemy from capturing the BRB canal located to the east of the provincial capital.
It’s important to note that a total of 106 soldiers from the 16 Punjab Regiment made the ultimate sacrifice during this conflict, marking the highest number of casualties for any unit in the history of the Pakistan Army.
In an interview Brigadier (retired) Sher Afgan recollected his experiences during the 1965 war. He recounted that, at the time, his platoons received orders to advance towards the Indian territory along the Lahore eastern border with the objective of preventing the enemy from overpassing the BRB Canal, which served as their defensive line.
He further explained that one of the two companies within his platoons successfully captured the Rani post of India which is near the Wagah border, and the other managed to secure the other post of India located across the Ravi River.
The 1965 war persisted until 23rd September , 1965. In a concerted effort to peacefully resolve the dispute, the United Nations Security Council passed a resolution on 20th September, aimed at bringing an end to the conflict. India acknowledged the ceasefire on September 21st, followed by Pakistan’s acknowledgment on September 22nd. This pivotal agreement (Tashkent Agreement) was formalized through the signing of a pact between India’s Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and Pakistan’s President Ayub Khan on 10th January, 1966.
The primary objective of this agreement was to restore diplomatic relations and diffuse the hostility that had existed between India and Pakistan. Importantly, this accord was signed under the auspices of the United Nations, with the active involvement of Soviet Premier Aleksey Kosygin, who played a significant role in facilitating the reduction of tensions between the two nations.