A million dollar
question is who actually won 1965 War? India or Pakistan? For a factual and neutral
answer, we have to explore the circumstances which actually put both the
countries into this bloody war. In Pakistan we have two different narrations,
one is the official Pakistan Study version which is essential to believe in
order to be a true patriotic Pakistani and second one is the account of some
left wing authors and intellectuals who always refute the official version and jeopardize
their patriotism.
What we read in our
curriculum books is a nice one which states that the coward Indian army
attacked the international border near Lahore in the dark night with the aim of
capturing Lahore. This was a betrayal, coward and irreverent effort of the
enemy which our audacious and faithful forces crushed. Our Army destroyed many
Indian aircrafts and ground troops. Some even announce that we had
captured substantial parts of India along the border and control line.
Apart from the above two
versions, there are neutral international authors and historians who describe
otherwise. They say that one fine morning our generals thought that, the Muslim
population of Indian held Kashmir is ready to revolt in favor of Pakistan. So
this is the right time to infiltrate into Kashmir, create a revolt of locals
and capture the whole of Kashmir. With this cheerful approach some generals planned
an operation named "Operation Gibraltar". After planning and
deliberations, our forces executed the operation and enter into the Indian held
Kashmir with 40,000 Pak Army troops. In the first week of August 1965, the
troops of Azad Kashmir Regimental Force crossed the Control Line and entered into
the Indian held Kashmir across Pir Panjal range. The Indian Army was not
prepared for this abrupt infiltration and met some heavy loses initially.
Pakistan made progress in some areas including Poonch sector in Jammu. In
retaliation, Indian Army on August 28, 1965 captured the strategic Haji Pir
pass which was located some 8 km into the Pakistan held Kashmir. With this move
of Indian Army, the Operation Gibraltar failed in achieving its objectives. Pakistan Army
then started an another operation Grand Slam in an attempt to capture some
major cities of Jammu but the Indian attack on international boarder in Lahore
and Sialkot divided the efforts of Pakistan Army which
resulted the failure of Operation Grand Slam as well.
The experts say
that both the countries faced heavy losses in this war but India has an upper
hand due to the following reasons:
- Pakistan has started the war to
capture Indian held Kashmir and failed to do so
- The losses of Pakistan, both
man and material are more than India. See the details below:
Details of Losses
|
India
|
Pakistan
|
Men
|
3,000
|
3,800
|
Tanks
|
150-190
|
200-300
|
Aircrafts
|
60-75
|
20
|
Territory Lost
|
540 Sq Km
|
Over 1,840 Sq Km
|
Some independent authors
also give upper hand to India. (quoted from BBC website dated August 13, 2015) The US
retired Diplomat Dennis Kux says "Although
both sides lost heavily in men and material, and neither gained a decisive
military advantage, India had the better of the war. Delhi achieved its basic
goal of thwarting Pakistan's attempt to seize Kashmir by force. Pakistan gained
nothing from a conflict which it had instigated."
English
historian John Keay: "The war lasted barely a month. Pakistan made gains
in the Rajasthan desert but its main push against India's Jammu-Srinagar road
link was repulsed and Indian tanks advanced to within a sight of Lahore. Both
sides claimed victory but India had most to celebrate."
