Pakistan forces retreated after Shastriji’s warning

BD Kasniyal

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Pithoragarh, October 4

The bravery displayed by jawans of Kumaon Regiment during the 1965 war with Pakistan became the talk of the town. The regiment won the battle of Maharaja Ke in the Sialkot sector and other battles in the Chamb, Joria and Akhnoor sectors with the highest number of jawans laying down their lives.

“The 1965 war was thrust upon India by Pakistan military dictators, who were daydreaming of taking advantage of the fact that India was still reeling under the defeat in the war with China in 1962. Pakistan had thought that it would easily capture Kashmir like China had captured portions of Ladakh and NEFA.” said Lt Gen Mohan Chand Bhandari (retd), who had taken commission in the Indian Army at that time.

Lt Gen Bhandari said the war began in the Kutch sector in January 1965 when Pakistan armed forces advanced into the Indian territory but following intervention of the then British Prime Minister Harold Wilson and a warning from Indian Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri, they retreated to their original positions. “As Pakistan could not be trusted as ever, it started operation African Gibraltar in the Chamb sector with the help of China. After achieving success there, it started another operation ‘African leg horn’ in the Akhnoor sector with the intention of disrupting the mainstream Indian supplies. It became the real starting point of the 1965 war with Pakistan," said Lt Gen Bhandari.

Kumaon Regiment troops were sent to combat the advances of 23 Azad Kashmir battalion of the special service group of the Pakistan army in the Kashmir sector on September 23, 1965. The Kumaunis advanced to the post and captured the hills where the Pakistan forces had posts and named these hills as Kumaon Hills. Captain Surendra Shah and Naik Chander Singh made the supreme sacrifice of their lives in the battle.

The Kumaon Regiment jawans fought another battle in the Chamb sector. A Kumauni battalion was sent to preempt the Pakistan attack at Mandiala heights of west P. Before the Kumaunis could set up a defence, the Pakistan army launched a major attack on their positions during early hours on September 1. As the Pakistan troops were supported by massive artillery shells and armoured thrust, the Kumaunis held up the battle for a day and a half and in between destroyed four Pakistan tanks.

The battle of Maharaja Ke, a Pakistan position near Pagowal village, 13 miles inside Pakistan in Sialkot district, was a fierce battle. “The battle of Maharaja Ke began on September 7 when jawans of 9 Kumaon Regiment and Madras Regiment under 69 Mountain Brigade braving enemy shelling advanced towards a Pakistan stronghold post at Pagowal village and captured the Maharaja Ke peak, which was strategically significant for Pakistan forces. The battle of Maharaja Ke left two Indian officers, two JCOs and 23 soldiers dead while the Pakistan army lost 30 jawans, including some officers,” said Brig AN Balkare, commander of 69 Mountain Brigade.