India cannot forget Pakistan Navy operation ‘Dwarka’ carried out during 1965 Indo-Pakistan war while Pakistan Air Force (PAF) on September 6 and 7 during the war had gunned downed 50 Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft in the air-battle and caused damage to eight others.
According to a documentary aired at a news channel, this was the first use of Pakistan Navy in any Indo-Pakistan Wars.
It was one of the significant naval events of Indo-Pakistan war and Pakistan celebrates September 8 as ‘Victory Day’ for Pakistan Navy.
A fleet of seven ships comprising PNS Babur, PNS Khaibar, PNS Badr, PNS Jahangir, PNS Alamgir, PNS Shah Jahan and PNS Tipu Sultan set sail for ‘Dwarka’ and bombarded the Indian town.
The report added that the first nine shells hit directly on the Indian Naval Radar station destroying most of the infrastructure, killing 13 sailors and two officers.
The Naval Radar Station was being used by the Indian Air Force (IAF) to attack Pakistan territory but, after the effective attack by the Pakistan Navy, IAF had to suspend its operation.
Col (r) Afzal Hussan talking to the channel said that on September 7, Indian armed forces tried to enter into Sialkot, but due to timely and strong reply given by the Pakistan Armed Forces, the enemy had to flee and left around nine new tanks and its weapons in the battlefield.
To a question he said, spirit of Pakistan army and people was really commendable during the 1965 war.
Caption (r) Abdur Rehan told that the spirit of 1965 war was still alive in the nation and a befitting response would be given to India if war was imposed on Pakistan.
“During 1965 war, people from across the country stood with the Pakistan Army shoulder to shoulder for the defence of their motherland against Indian aggression,” he recalled.
He said India had launched the attack cowardly in the night, but Pakistan Army faced it courageously and failed its nefarious designs.
PAF during the war remained in virtual control in vital battle areas as the IAF after September 7, showed growing reluctance to engage an aerial combat.
Squadron Leader (r) Ali Akbar said “We were flying in Indian air space, inviting them to come out and fight with us, but they was reluctant.”
At that time, he said, IAF preferred to stay at hangars to avoid any further damage.
He recalled that PAF leadership also exhibited a classic example of unconventional means utilizing its C-130 fleet for night bombing. The 1965 battle saw the best of the PAF’s war-fighting abilities, he added.
Similarly, he said that MM Alam rewrote the history on September 7 by setting new records while defending Pakistan’s Airspace against the aggressors shot down five Indian aircraft in less than sixty seconds. He can genuinely be branded as a “hunter of the hunters”.
Col (r) Riaz Mohiuddin recalling golden memories of 1965 War said that Indian army tried to enter at ‘Rann of Kucth’ area but due to an effective and forceful response by the Pakistan Army, Indian forces had to flee from the battle front.
He said that the spirit of the Pakistan Armed Forces as well as civilians was commendable.
To a question, he said Pakistani singers did a great service to the nation in testing and hard times, they rose to the occasion when their country called and sure enough they hearkened.
He said because of the unity exhibited by the nation and spirit by Pakistan Army, Indian army was defeated during 1965 war at all fronts.
