9 punjab in 1965 war
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This document summarizes the performance of the 9 Punjab battalion during the 1965 war with India. The battalion was part of the 12th Division of the Pakistan Army and was tasked with capturing the town of Chhamb. Despite having significant superiority in tanks and artillery, the 12th Division failed to cross the Tawi River on the first day. The 9th Punjab battalion suffered 15 killed and 31 wounded but managed to form a bridgehead across the Tawi. After the war, the battalion was praised for its performance and received several awards, though its strategic impact was limited due to the overall failure of Operation Grand Slam.
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9 punjab in 1965 war
- 2. This battalion was a part of 12 Division (102 Brigade) . It was regarded as one of the finest battalions of the Pakistan Army and was assigned the division¨s principal task of capturing Chhamb.1 As the map above indicates Pakistan¨s 12 Division in this sector enjoyed very significant overall superiority over the weak Indian screen type positions , by virtue of massive superiority in tanks and artillery. 1 Page-204- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-Op cit.
- 3. Thus Pakistani victory in this sector was a foregone conclusion.
- 5. While 9 Punjab performed outstandingly on the first and second day of Operation Grand Slam , Pakistan¨s 12
- 6. Division¨s performance on the first day of the war was operationally pathetic in failing to cross Tawi despite massive superiority in tanks and artillery and encircling and destroying the very weak Indian 191 Brigade. A bridgehead across Tawi was formed by 10 Brigade , against no Indian opposition as map below indicates:-- 9 Punjab¨s operations across Tawi river commencing from 4th September 1965 till ceasefire are indicated by two maps below and are exhaustively self explanatory.
- 9. The battalion suffered 15 killed 31 wounded and 3 missing casualties in whole of 1965 war .2 These casualties are not very high for an infantry battalion keeping in view its total strength which is over 800 . My own regiment 11 Cavalry (FF) (tank regiment strength is about half of infantry battalion) which fought alongside 9 Punjab in 1965 war suffered 19 killed in a single day of fighting. The battalion¨s low casualties may be ascribed to the fact that Pakistan Army enjoyed considerably overwhelming superiority in tanks and artillery in this sector. The battalion won the following awards :--3 Sitara I Jurrat -TWO Tamgha I Jurrat -FOUR IMTIAZI SANAD -THREE The Sitara e Jurrats were won by the commanding officer lieutenant colonel Hanif and Major Musarrat Nawaz.4 2 Page-509- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981- 3 Page-206- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981- 4 Page-516- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-
- 10. The battalion lost no officer in the war. The battalion performed outstandingly in the war and was universally praised in the Pakistan Army both in published accounts and by general word of mouth. The battalions outstanding performance apart , Operation Grand Slam was a strategic and operational failure , hence the battalion¨s net strategic impact on war was NIL. 9 Punjab was one of finest battalions of Pakistan Army as fondly remembered by my regiment who fought alongside this great battalion in Operation Grand Slam.