The 1965 Indo-Pak War and the Failure of the Pakistan Armor
The 1965 war was in many ways a watershed in the military history of the sub continent. The scenario for India was far from encouraging. The Indian Army had been badly mauled in the 1962 clash with China. In contrast Pakistan was cock a hoop and looked forward to an easy victory. General Ayub Khan the Pakistan President breathed fire and the Pakistan Army was smug in the belief that one Moslem soldier was equivalent to 10 Hindu soldiers. In addition the Pakistani troops were confident that the Hindu soldiers could not face them and after that they would have any number of Hindu girls for their pleasure.
The Pakistan Army also had a massive donation of arms from the USA. The weapons were ostensibly given by the USA to fight the communists, but everybody knew including the US President that they would be used against India. Among the weaponry were the famed Patton tanks with infra red vision and night devices. The Pakistan Army massed these tanks on the border with India at chamb Jaurian sector. They wished to make a thrust and cut the state of Jammu and Kashmir from India. The plan was sound,but the Pakistan General staff had not calculated on the stern Indian response and the fact that India may open another front in the Lahore sector to relieve the pressure on the Chamb sector.
This is precisely what happened. India opened a front in the Lahore sector and the armour assault in the Chamb was blunted. The Pakistan army tank crew gave a poor account of themselves and despite advantage of terrain and weaponry the attack was blunted. The Pakistan army now mounted a massive assault with tanks in the Khemkaran sector. Again the battle turned sour for the Pakistani tank crew. The famed Patton tanks were just abandoned by the Pak tank crew who just ran away. The crew forgot all about one Muslim and 10 Hindus and retreated. Khemkaran became a grave yard of the Patton tanks. In fact US generals were surprised at the Pakistan defeat.
Thus history tells us that this war marked the ascendency of India as the dominant power on the sub continent. It also put paid to the myth that the Hindus are poor soldiers. It also brought out the fact that advanced weaponry alone cannot do the trick without motivation and training. The defeat of Pakistan Armor is worth Rs.
