The history of the Indo-Pakistan war has always been a hot topic of strategic and military scholarship. India and Pakistan have fought four wars so far, but the more uncertain was the 1965 war, which was a real testament to the young Pakistani nation. The post-partition history of the subcontinent entails a horrific, unfair story; in 1947, the prince of Kashmir, Raja Hari Singh, acceded to India without taking the people of Kashmir into confidence. This disputed annexation became the root cause of the tension between India and Pakistan, which made the region volatile, and three wars have been fought on the Kashmir issue: the 1948–1965 War and the Kargil War in 1998.
India attacked Pakistan on the night of September 6, 1965, under the pretext of a military incursion into Kashmir. This shocked the developing nation, as it faced an enemy three times larger than its size. Pakistan Armed Forces in 1965 successfully repulsed a surprise attack’ by India aimed to militarily defeat Pakistan and eventually undo the 1947 division of the Indian subcontinent.
The Indian Army unlawfully violated an international boundary and began an aggressive assault on the Lahore sector to conquer the city quickly. However, with relatively few troops and limited resources, the Armed Forces thwarted India’s intentions to celebrate victory in Lahore.
On September 8, India started its primary offensive in the Sialkot area, deploying an armored Division and strike force. The subsequent tank fight has been regarded as the biggest since WWII. The army repelled the invasion and counterattacked, capturing the sizeable Indian area of Khem Karan and beyond. As a consequence, the Indian Army incurred significant casualties, including lives and resources.
The heroic company commander, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti Shaheed, who commanded from the front in the Burki region of Lahore during the 1965 war, was martyred on September 12. He sacrificed his life for Pakistan after inflicting heavy casualties on the Indian army. He was given the Nishan-e-Haider, Pakistan’s highest military honour, after he died in honour of his bravery. From Pathankot to Agra, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) showed its might by attacking Indian military and IAF sites; it destroyed 50 IAF planes and damaged ten more; night bombing assaults added to the casualties. The PAF won the battle due to its valiant efforts to gain air supremacy.
The Pakistan Navy (PN), although relatively small in number, has conducted many actions that have established strategic deterrence and countered the Indian Navy. A notable accomplishment of PN’s 1965 Indo-Pak War operation, Operation Dwarka, was the destruction of the Indian radar system. When it came to directing attacks by the Indian Air Force, this technology was pivotal. The operation aimed to protect Pakistani maritime lanes and waterways by luring Indian warships away from Bombay (now Mumbai) and into the Arabian maritime. Due to its positioning, the Pakistani submarine “Ghazi” had the potential to sink Indian ships like INS Vikrant and INS Mysore. This action demonstrated PN’s meticulous preparation and crucial role in ensuring the safety of Pakistan’s maritime borders.
Operation Dwarka, which started on September 8, 1965, hurt the operating plans of the Indian Navy. The four-minute bombardment, quick as lightning, showed the Pakistan Navy’s precision and capability. “The quick and decisive action at Dwarka proved Pakistan’s naval strength,” one observer noted. This move, along with the joint efforts of the Army, Navy, and Air Force on many fronts—from Lahore to Karachi and Rann of Kutch to Chamb Jorian—turned these areas into “graveyards of broken dreams” for India’s leaders. During the fight, Pakistan’s armed forces joined militias to weaken India’s key aims.
The 1965 war between India and Pakistan had a significant impact on South Asia’s political scene. On September 6, Defense Day honours the Pakistani Armed Forces and citizens who fought to keep their country free from outside attackers. India started the war by attacking Pakistan’s border, but Pakistan’s Army, Navy, and Air Force worked together to turn things around.
A scholar states, “The 1965 war showcased the indomitable spirit of Pakistan’s military and its commitment to national sovereignty.” The fight demonstrated how much teamwork and grit matter in war. Pakistani soldiers beat back Indian attacks and kept the country’s borders safe.
The 1965 fight changed how countries in the area dealt with each other. It showed why Pakistan and India needed strong defences. Pakistan’s story of standing up for itself made people feel proud and united when the war ended. The nation honours the brave men and women who died in the 1965 war and remembered what they did for us.
Many say, “Their bravery remains inspiring for future generations.”
