NOTE: Presented below is a distilled summary of the insightful discussion led by Air Commodore Zahid ul Hassan SI(M), TI(M), (R) during a seminar organized by Rabita Forum International in commemoration of Defense Day. His discussion, rich with historical insights, underscores the accomplishments that make the Pakistan Air Force a source of national pride. We are pleased to share these highlights for the enrichment of our readers, fostering a deeper appreciation for the PAF’s legacy.
Ladies and Gentleman!Assalama o Alaykom,
I will present a brief overview of the air operations which were undertaken between the PAF and the IAF during the 1965 war. Before proceeding further, it seems prudent to have a brief overview of the strategic regional and global environment that was prevalent before the conflict unfolded.
- Brief overview of the strategic environment
- UN resolutions could not force the Indians to hold a free and fair plebiscite in Kashmir.
- Post Sino-Indo War of 1962, Indo-China relations remained strained, while Pakistan gained friendship with China by resolving border disputes.
- Pakistan had maintained cordial relations with the Muslim world.
- Though Pakistan had maintained a Balance of military power with India, however, in post Sino-Indo war, the US started re-equipping India at a fast pace under a 10-year plan which was viewed as a grave threat to the Kashmir cause.
- Despite all diplomatic efforts by Pakistan, deadlock prevailed over Kashmir and India remained undeterred for any resolution.
- Considering the upsurge in Kashmir owing to the theft of Holy Relic from Hazratbal in 1963 and the failure of IndoPak talks in 1963-64, Pakistan started looking forward to other means to de-freeze the Kashmir issue.
- Ladies and Gentleman, under the exuberance of Runn of Kutch huberism, Pakistan opted to use direct force with assumptions that:
- The political situation in Kashmir was conducive to resurrection;
- Conflict in Kashmir would remain localized and India would not violate the sanctity of International Border.
- Before dwelling upon the conduct of war, let’s have a look at the Politico-Military Aims of both sides:
- Pakistan aimed To “De-freeze the Kashmir Issue by fostering insurgency in IIOJK”, sensitize the world community and create conditions for the resolution of the dispute without provoking general war.
- Whereas, India aimed to maintain the status quo in IIOJK and in case of unacceptable pressure on Kashmir, carry out a thrust across the international border.
- Coming over to the Operation Gibraltar. Launched on 29 July 1965, the Gibraltar force successfully infiltrated the Cease Fire Line. Owing to inadequate intelligence, logistics, and local support, the Operation failed to create the desired effects and the force had to withdraw. In response, the Indian Army launched an offensive and captured Jura & Bedori Bulges thereby posing a threat to Muzaffarabad.
- Operation grand slam. On 1st Sept, the Pak Army, sensing a potential threat to Muzaffarabad, launched Operation Grand Slam to choke the Indian jugular vein i.e. Road Jammu-Akhnur-Naushehra. Operation advanced as planned with Chamb captured on 2nd Sept, however, an abrupt move to change Major General Akhtar Hussain Malik with Major General Yahya resulted in a loss of critical 36-48 hours and shifted the initiative to India. Operation resumed on 5th Sept with the fall of Jaurian, however, with Akhnur fall in the site. Indians attacked across the International Border on 6th Sept in Lahore and Kasur Sectors.
- Ladies and Gentleman, before dwelling upon the conduct of air ops in the 1965 war, let me begin by saying that:
- It is the story of the courage and indomitable spirit of the airmen who stood resolute against a large adversary.
- It is a saga of venerable leaders who left an indelible mark in the history books.
- It was the outcome of persistent efforts since 1947; when PAF had a handful of pilots and a mere vintage 35 tempest aircraft.
- Air Marshal Asghar Khan, the first Pakistani C-in-C of PAF transformed the outlook of PAF from a WW II outfit into a modern and well-trained force However,
- The PAF command was handed over to Air Marshal Nur Khan in July 1965, who laid stringent standards of gunnery, skills, and airmanship.
- His precise assessment of an inevitable conflict led to a re-assessment of PAF war plans.
- Ladies and Gentleman, Force comparison of air assets was in gross favor of India especially in terms of quantity as PAF had:
- 149 aircraft arranged in 11 Sqn (100 F-86, 25 B-57, 12 F-104, 12 T-33) while
- IAF had 536 arranged in 30 Sqn (10 Mig-21 (Russ), 118 Hunter (UK), 80 Gnat (UK), 80 Myst (F), 56 Orgn (F), 60 Can (UK), 132 Vamp (UK)).
- PAF had a total of 04 air Bases, three in West Pakistan (Peshawar, Sargodha, Mauripur) and only one in East Pakistan (Tezgaon Dhaka) as compared to.
- IAF which had 11 air Bases arranged in two layers and mutually supportive of each other, 08 around West Pakistan and three around East Pakistan.
Overall IAF had a clear numerical and infrastructural advantage over the PAF. However, the PAF had a highly qualified and experienced fighter crew with a modern and potent combat fleet. Especially, PAF leadership at all tiers was Proactive, visionary, and dynamic while young leaders were fearless, and never deprived of initiative.
8.Ladies and Gentleman, Proceedings of1965 war can be divided in to four phases.
- OPS DESERT HAWK – Run of Kutchh area from April-June, 1965
- OPS GIBRALTAR – commenced on 29 July, resulted in the capture of Jura and Bedori bulges by the Indian Army
- OPS GRANDSLAM – commenced on 01 Sep, to avoid threat to MZD, to capture Akhnur, and threaten Indian jugular vein.
- ALL-OUT WAR – commenced on vee hours of 06 Sep and culminated on 23rd Sep 1965 with UN-sponsored ceasefire.
9.Ladies and Gentleman, PAF’s Strategy was to Pre-emptively strike and neutralize IAF airfields, infra, and aircraft on the ground and in the air, ensure its survival and prevent attainment of air superiority by IAF, and remain viable and available to support offensive and defensive land operations. It may be pertinent to note that this strategy was so successful and appealing that a similar strategy was copied and adopted by the Israeli Air Force during its war in 1967 against the Arab countries.
Ops Desert Hawk saw little air action by IAF and PAF: however, an intruding IAF Ouragan aircraft was force-landed by PAF close to Jhangshahi.
10.Ladies and Gentleman, To support Ops Grandslam, PAF was put on red alert on 29 Aug 1965 and started combat air patrols (CAP) over the Chhamb sector on the same day. PAF CNC AM Nur Khan, in a daring and exemplified manner personally flew over the battle zone on 01 September and observing the vulnerability of Pakistan’s land forces, increased the number and time of PAF combat air patrols over the Chhamb sector.
As soon as the Pakistan Army reported the attack by the IAF aircraft, PAF CAP in the area; led by daring devil Sqn Ldr Sarfraz Rafiqui was immediately diverted and PAF established its supremacy by shooting down all five IAF Vampire aircraft in air combat in the battle zone. The results of the first engagement were remarkable and had profound effects as it Forced IAF to withdraw its entire fleet of Vampires and Ouragans for the remaining period of the war which amounts to 188 aircraft (35% of total air effort)
From 2nd till 5th September, PAF conducted CAPs; Armed Reconnaissance, and Photo Recce missions in the Akhnur sector and not only enjoyed air superiority but also afforded complete impunity to Pakistan’s land forces against IAF to successfully pursue and achieve their objectives. This was a unique and remarkable achievement in a potentially contested airspace.
11.Ladies and Gentleman, Since the early morning of 6 Sep, the Battle for Lahore was simmering and No 19 Squadron from Peshawar started the onslaught on the advancing Indian Army, Sherman tanks along with other APCs were dealt a severe blow and the Indians were brought to a halt. In this regard, a letter written by then Brig Amjad Choudhry, Artillery Commander of No 4 Corps, to AM Nur Khan reads ‘Your very first action in Chhamb left no doubt in our mind that we did not have to worry much about enemy air. The pattern was set there and then. We will never forget that spectacleit lifted our spirits and gave us a flying start.
In a significant development, Indians were so confident of their success that on 06 Sep Gen Choudhary, Indian COAS invited several foreign correspondents, including Mark Tully of the BBC, to the Lahore Gymkhana for a victory drink.
On 06 Sep (0930) 06 Aircraft of 19 Sqn from devastated Indian Army. Gen Lachhman Singh (Indian General Staff) stated in his book ‘Missed Opportunities Indo-Pak War 1965’ that “It was about 09.30 am, the leading units lost all its vehicles, guns, and Sherman tanks as the enemy aircraft shot them up for about 15 minutes undeterred by fire from our troops or by IAF. Similarly, Gen Sukhwant Singh also states that “the C.O. of the 13 Jatt battalion ran back with just one sock and one shoe, deserting the battalion. His 2nd in command followed suit and escaped on a bicycle and took refuge in Amritsar.”
Similarly, Pushpindar Singh, a top Indian historian confirmed while talking to Air Cdre (then Sqn Ldr) Sajjad Haider that Major Gen Nirindera Parshad, the Div Cdr of 15 Inf Div that was set out for the Lahore Gymkhana, abandoned his two star and flag jeep, instead ended up in Amritsar to be court-martialled later. His jeep was strafed by Sqn Ldr Sajjad Haider.
12.Ladies and Gentleman, on 07 Sep 1965, PAF undertook Pre-emptive strikes against the Indian Air Force Bases and destroyed 13 aircraft at Pathankot, 21 aircraft at Kalaikunda across East Pakistan, 05 at Halwara, and 10 out of 24 aircraft that came to attack Sargodha. This is the same day and same strike in which Sqn Lds MM Alam achieved a singular honor and recorded the destruction of 05 Indian Hunter aircraft in just less than a minute, this L & GM remains an unbeatable feat and world record even today.
During this fateful day, IAF lost 54 aircraft, 19 aircraft in the air, and 35 on the ground, and suffered 52% attrition. That is the reason that every year 07 Sep, is celebrated as the Yume Fizaya.
13.Ladies and Gentleman, from 08 Sep till 23 Sep, Pakistan Air Force destroyed 149 tanks, 666 vehicles of various types, and 62 guns while, according to the independent sources, PAF destroyed 75 IAF aircraft while lost 16 aircraft either due to enemy action on the ground or in the air and lost 03 aircraft due technical failure. Interestingly, throughout the war, PAF flew 2279 aircraft sorties @ 15 sorties/aircraft while IAF flew 3939 sorties which comes out to be 07 sorties/aircraft. This speaks of the highest level of commitment and maintenance practices by the PAF’s technical and support crew.
14.Ladies and Gentleman, Ceasefire was declared on 23 Sept 1965 and led to the Tashkent Declaration signed on 10 January 1966 with no mention of the Kashmir issue.
Ladies and Gentlemen, with this I come to the end of my part, and thank you very much for your patient hearing…
Air Commodore Zahid ul Hassan SI(M), TI(M), (R) is Director Research at the Center for International Strategic Studies Sindh (CISSS).
