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India-Pakistan War-1965 Module - V

Major Wars Post
18.1.4 Indian Response
Independence
st
(a) In the early hours of 1 Sep 1965, Pakistan started Operation GRAND SLAM
with artillery firing across the cease fire line in the Chamb sector in Kashmir. The
plan was to capture the important towns of Akhnoor and Jammu. The first attacks
came in Chamb because it was a plain country with mountainous terrain on the
west and the river Chenab on the east. Pakistan used armor and heavy artillery
Note
in this area, whereas it was unable to induct heavy armour and artillery in the
area because of a weak bridge across river Chenab. In the intital attack Pakistani
army could enter 5 miles deep into India.

nd
(b) On 2 September Pakistani aircraft started attacking Chamb-Jaurian road. This
was opposed by the Indian Brigade all by themselves without any artillery support.
The Pakistani tanks rolled into India without much effective opposition from the
Indian armed forces which did not have any heavy armed tank forces on their
side. In order to capture Akhnoor, Pakistanis fiercely attacked the Indian side.
Their next step appeared to be a massive thrust from Sialkot. Aim was to capture
Jammu and block the entire Indian army in Jammu and Kashmir including Ladakh.

(c) Meanwhile the Indian air force was called in. It was a quick decision taken by
Sh.Y.B. Chavan, Indian Defence Minister to give air support to the Indian army
in the Chamb sector. The Vampires and Mystere fighter planes of the IAF
attacked the enemy tanks, vehicles, and troops with maximum fire. 13 tanks, 2

artillery guns and 62 motor vehicles were destroyed. And it also stopped the
Pakistani attack. The Pakistani Air force was soon called out for counter offensive
action against IAF. Pakistan Airforce used the American made Sabre Jets F96
and F104 Starfighters. It was considered much superior to Indian Vampires and
Mysteres. It was also believed that the newly introduced fighter plane- the GNAT,
was not suitable against the Sabre. But the skills of the Indian pilots were so
great in the mid air attacks that Sabre aircrafts were soon shot down. The intensive
st
th
Air attack in the Chamb- Jaurian sector lasted from the 1 to 6 of September
1965.
18.2 Which other areas did we fight the war in 1965?

The Indian army launched massive attacks in Punjab in the areas close to Amritsar and
Faridkot on 06 September 1965. Airforce played an important role in the attack and
destroyed many tanks and aircrafts of the Pakistani forces.

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MILITARY HISTORY 53