7 Punjab in 1965 war

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The battalion was part of 11 Divison deployed in Ravi-
Sutlej Corridor as depicted in maps below:--

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The battalions detailed deployment was as below:--
Indian Army 4 Mountain Division had planned a limited
offensive in the battalion’s area of responsibility as
depicted on map below :--

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The battalions deployment for greater clarity is depicted
in enlarged map below:--

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The battalion faced a brigade level attack in which Indian
brigade opposite it used three infantry battalions and a
tank squadron in support .1
The attack on 7 Punjab’s left forward platoon of 7 Punjab’s
B company was launched as depicted by map below:--
Brigadier Rizvi credited army hockey colour holder
Subedar Sakhawat with repulsing a whole infantry
battalion supported by troop of tanks, 2
which is ludicrous
1
Page-197 – Map showing attack on 7 Punjab defences in the
book –THE MONSOON WAR – Lieutenant General Tajinder
Singh Shergill and Captain Amarinder Singh- Roli Books- New
Delhi-2015.
2
Page-251- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE
PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-Op cit.

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to the extreme. A more detailed examination of this action
reveals that crucial role was played by Pakistani artillery in
repulsing this attack.
One captain Mubarak who was a reservist since last nine
years had rejoined 12 Medium and spotted the attack at
0515 hours 6th
September 1965. He requested permission
to engage and on affirmative engaged the attacking
battalion led by three tanks with an airburst concentration
of 60 medium shells .3
The Indian attack towards the southern flank led by 13
Dogra was more dangerous.
Two companies of this battalion fixed 7 punjab from the
front while two companies outflanked the battalion from
the deep south and captured Rohiwal and 40 r in the rear
of number 6 platoon of B Company 7 Punjab.4
3
Page-254-IZZAT O IQBAL- Major General Shaukat Riza- School
of Artillery-Nowshera-1980.
4
Page-251- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE
PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-Op cit.

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Number six platoon of B Company 7 Punjab was forced to
fall back into the area of A Company 7 Punjab.

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7 Punjab’s commanding officer lieutenant colonel Shirazi
was a highly resolute officer. He came to know about this
dangerous situation (loss of Rohiwal and 9 r) at 0930 hours
6th
September 1965.5
5
Page-252- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE
PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-

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Colonel Shirazi ordered major Younus commanding A
Company of 7 Punjab to launch a counter attack and evict
the two Dogra companies.6
Here in this case the actions of one lieutenant Imtiaz of 12
Medium supporting 7 Punjab company led to most
decisive results in defeating the Indian ingress. Lieutenant
Imtiaz suggested to major Younus that he be allowed to
administer the Dogra companies holding Rohiwal and 40 r
(which Rizvi called 45 r) with a dose of air burst artillery
concentration .7
Here it is shocking to note the extreme
naievette and ignorance of Rizvi who wrongly stated that
lieutenant Imtiaz of 12 Medium asked for air support .
Shocking that a seasoned brigadier of Pakistan Army
writing Punjab Regiment history could not differ between
“artillery air burst” and “air support” !
Shaukat Riza the artillery historian also noted that major
Younus agreed to lieutenant Imtiaz Malik’s suggestion to
soften up the two Dogra companies with artillery airburst
fire before attacking the Dogras.8
6
Page-242- HISTORY OF INDO PAK WAR-1965-Op cit.
7
Page-252- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE
PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-Op cit
8
Page-225- IZZAT O IQBAL-Op cit

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A Company 7 Punjab counter attack on the two Dogra
companies shattered by 12 Medium air burst was a
resounding success.
The two Dogra companies holding Rohiwal and 40 r simply
dispersed and fled in panic.
This was the end of Indian brigade attack on 7 Punjab and
this failure was precisely acknowledged by Indian western
command chief Harbaksh Singh in his book “WAR
DESPATCHES”.
Major Younus was awarded a Sitara e Jurrat (SJ) for this
attack while the real hero of the battle lieutenant Imtiaz
Malik was awarded a puny Imtiazi Sanad.
There was definite discrimination against artillery in
award of gallantry awards.
Thus ended the most notable action of 7 Punjab in 1965
war.

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7 Punjab lost only one killed 9
in 1965 war but its role in
1965 war was most decisive in repulsing a brigade level
attack by Indian 4 Mountain Division
No officer of 7 Punjab was killed in 1965 war.
7 Punjab’s performance as a battalion was most
outstanding . This was due to the fact that it was led by a
highly resolute commanding officer and because its
officers listened carefully to suggestions of the
supporting artillery officers , in this case Captain
Mubarak and Lieutenant Imtiaz Malik , both of whom
were most HAM HANDEDLY treated in grant of gallantry
awards.
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Page-509- VETERAN CAMPAIGNERS-A HISTORY OF THE
PUNJAB REGIMENT-1759-1981-Op cit.

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Repulse of Indian 4 Mountain Division , particularly the
mountain brigade attacking 7 Punjab was a most decisive
event of 1965 war and cleared the way for the Pakistani
main armoured division attack inside India opposite
Khem Karan. That this armoured division failed is another
story , for which 7 Punjab cannot be blamed.
7 Punjab holds a very esteemed and respected position
in Pakistan Army and its performance was outstanding in
1965 war.

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