It was a complete victory in defeating India’s war objectives. Every year Pakistan Armed Forces , and Pakistan celebrate sixth September as victory /Defence Day. Of Late there has been number of self elevated individuals ,after sixty years , since they have negative view the armed forces, due to personal , political , hidden agenda or part of the fifth-generation warfare try to build a narrative what Pakistan Army /Defence forces achieved in any war . There is a tendency in Pakistan whosesoever criticises the armed forces becomes popular because of the narrative which is specific to their perception . Standard allegation , armed forces, Pakistan had not conquered Kashmir, not captured India, they surrendered in East Pakistan and lost territories . Answer , we have to first examine the Genesis of Pakistan and thereafter.
Mohammad Ali Jinah had categorically argued , Muslim league’s effort was not only to get independence from the colonial power the British, also perpetual slavery of Hindu. From day one , August 14 , even prior to the partition of India, Congress not only played a very mischievous role by getting into the inner circle of viceroy lord Mountbatten . Mr Radcliffe , Barrister from England was called to execute partition plan , Punjab and Bengal. On the insistence of the Congress , supported by Tara Singh who was representing Sikhs , and Bengali Hindu nationalists were deeply hurt from partition of Bengal . West Bengal in 1906 was divided but it was not accepted by Congress and division was reversed in 1912 . The very Congress, on accepting partition of India act, reversed their earlier stand . If partition was accepted as majority provinces going to India Bengal going to Pakistan , they insisted for the partition of Bengal as they feared that there will be stronger East Pakistan and stronger West Pakistan. The balance of power in favour Pakistan will be danger in future. Congress prevailed Bengal and Punjab were divided triggering the largest migration of the population in the history and almost 1,000,000 people killed in the process. In Bengal the process was similar but the intensity of the migration was much lesser as Congress asked the east Pakistan Hindus to stay put , on assumption partition will not last long . The reason is understandable; this segment later played a very pivotal role in the disintegration of Pakistan in 1968-71. From day one effort was in hand to ensure that the Pakistan does not stabilise, as the partition was announced. Bloodshed already commenced , refugee problem created, ensuring stoppage Pakistan share of assets, defence equipment, and share of Pakistan’s finances to pressurise newly created. It was difficult for the newly established Pak government to even pay for the government employees . Many Muslim industrialists patriotic to Pakistan ,on call of Mohammad Ali Janah, donated money for treasury of Pakistan. From day one aim of the Indian government was to creates a situation that political parties of Pakistan should beg to India to rejoin. Resilience and sacrifice of the people of Pakistan made it possible to stabilise the government. The security issue emerged and still continuing .
It was the China India conflict exposed the weakness of the Indian Army otherwise there was multilateral pressure on Pakistan. During 1962 Sino Indian war , US pressurised Pakistan not to enter Kashmir which was vacant at that time. The opportunity was lost on USA’s assurances . USA promised initiation of talks between India Pakistan to solve Kashmir issue. It did not go ahead as planned. Frustrated on India’s approach ,Pakistan decided to take some action in Kashmir. It is debatable why it could not succeed. Earlier Run of Kath raised war hysteria , India claimed the complete water channel on its side. The conflict led to a mini war in which India was forced back s and Ran of Katch agreement was concluded. It was to the Chargin of the Indian leadership, Indian Public felt it failure of Indian government, as it was second defeat after Sino Indian 1962 war. On this pretext there was mobilisation on Pakistani borders almost for six months from May onward till August 1965.
Operation Gibraltar was launched in this strategic milieu and tactical background. There is a controversy , its launching was opposed by some officers of SSG, the mood of the population of occupied Kashmir was not measured at the moment. It is said the driving force at that time was FM . Operation was not success but it was a very daring operation by the brilliant soldiers of our SSG . There are innumerable tales of bravery, courage and sacrifice. It created a political and strategic milieu; the Indian government was under immense public pressure. India decided to attack. On Pakistan side , after Ran of Katch agreement, army formations stayed put in the front position till end of Aug , there was then partial withdrawal. The spirit was to give relief to the formations who were in the trenches since March 1965. ( author was on Wagah border) . But the formations were on six hours notice and high alert. In conjunction pak attacked in Chamb Sector across Tawi. Attack was extremely successful and advancing brigade capturing Chamb were advancing to wards Ashnoor/ Jammu . Mid operation, two important events occurred, 7 Div command was changed and in place of M Gen Akhtar Malik , M Gen Yahya was brought in . This paused in advance gave Indians chance to react and regroup. In response India planned to capture Lahore. It was a well-planned attack to raise the suture and bargaining edge to Pakistan to accept Indian monopoly . India was over confident , BBC prematurely ( India supplied ) announced Indian army captured Lahore. It was not so. When India attacked on the night of fifth sixth September our screens in border areas were in place and quick to react . Within hours Pakistan Artillery commenced shelling the Indian advancing columns . At first light Sep 7 , Pakistan Air Force struck the Indian advancing forward brigade with massive air strikes. It halted the Indian advance and even GOC of the leading formation had to leave his jeep and escape back. The Jeep is still in Pakistan Army Museum. Similarly, on the Burkey sector Indian advance brigade was halted by immense artillery fire lead by heavy guns . In response Pakistan attacked on multiple spots along LOC . Major push was made in Kasur Amritsar sector with X-ray force holding defence, Armoured Division crossed international border and within hours Town of Khem Kiran was captured ( author was providing Heavy artillery support). Having consolidated Pakistan armoured division was touching Town of Voltoa creating panic in Indian high command . Later Int reports , India planned to withdraw across river Chenab . Meanwhile India counter attacked with its Armoured division in Sialkot sector ,to release pressure in Kasur Amritsar sector , Shakar Garh area. Pakistan had at that time only one division plus in this sector , advance towards Amritsar was halted and quickly Armoured Division was shifted to Sialkot sector. It was a vary daring move while Indian Airforce attacking moving armour loaded trains . In this Sector Battle of Chowinda was fought, the largest after WW2, leaving behind tales of exemplary courage, devotion and sacrifice by men and officers alike . In southern Pakistan Pak army advanced and quickly captured up to Manabu . All fronts then on were engaged in defensive battles. Through out the war Pak Airforce emerged as one of the best in the world at that time . It routed Indian advance completely and mauled Indian Air Force . For many year world AirForce’s continued to study these air battles .
Coming back to the criticism what Pakistan forces had achieved in last 80 years? First examine the credentials of those people who are questioning. Strategy and geopolitics depend on the military power and good diplomacy. The decisions in real time , on ground situations . After that there’s nothing left but study the operations . Pakistan is embroiled in constant war right from 19 47 onwards. Security issue created both internally and externally by the enemies of Pakistan not restricted to India. Big powers can not ignore Pakistan due to geographic location of Pakistan. Pakistan is in Geo strategic Centre of gravity. No power can ignore it. Pak geography has certain positive points but also there are negative issues. It is magnet for big powers in any South Asian and global powers Yet Pakistan braved all those situations from massive migrations in 1947 to the last year short war with India in which Pakistan came out successful. Pakistan politically, diplomatically and literarily attained a higher status coming out of the ring of South Asia right up the West Asia. It is no more bilateral tangle but Pakistan in the new strategic architecture as major elevated player who cannot be ignored by all the three major powers that is US, China and Russia. To retain this position Pakistan has to be diplomatically very astute. No doubt so far Pakistan has been doing well. 1965 should be examined in the light of this Geo Strategic political and Global strategic Environment .
Terrorist activities in FATA and Pakistan are the part of the global strategy in which the ethnic, political, economic, and religious card is used. As a matter of fact, officially the war ended on 20 September 1965 yet I always maintain it still continuing in one form of the other. Let us today as Pakistani look inward and find out the foibles , we as a nation committed. Secondly democracy can only prosper in the atmosphere of tolerance , and exercising benevolence amongst each other. Failing, the enemies of Pakistan will continue to cultivate traitors exploiting fault lines .Pakistan is a strong , vibrant , and economically rich country. Allah bless Pakistan.
