BOOK REVIEW: 1965 A WESTERN SUNRISE – INDIA’S WAR WITH PAKISTAN

 

Published by Book review literary Trust

 

BOOK REVIEW:

1965 A WESTERN SUNRISE

INDIA’S WAR WITH PAKISTAN

By Shiv Kunal Verma

 

Review by: Air Marshal Anil Khosla (Retd) PVSM, AVSM, VM

Former Vice Chief of Air Staff, Indian Air Force.

The Indo-Pakistani war of 1965 was the second major war fought between the two countries after the partition in 1947. The war also called the “Second Kashmir War”, was a culmination of skirmishes that took place in the preceding months. The seventeen-day war (06 Sep – 22 Sep 65) caused thousands of casualties on both sides.  The hostilities between the two countries ended after a ceasefire was declared through United Nations Security Council Resolution, following diplomatic intervention by the Soviet Union and the United States, and the subsequent issuance of the Tashkent declaration. India had the upper hand over Pakistan when the ceasefire was declared and the conflict was seen as a strategic and political defeat for Pakistan.

 

In 1965 India was still recovering from the 1962 war with China. Pakistan thought it to be the right time to seize Kashmir from India. The skirmishes started in April 1965, with a Pakistani attack on Indian forces in the Rann of Kutch. India responded and repulsed the attack and also mobilised its troops in the Punjab and Kargil sectors, but stood down the troops by the end of July, in response to the UN intervention. Pakistan did not back off and launched Operation Gibraltar in August, by sending covertly about 12,000 trained mujahids to Kashmir. Pakistan expected India to collapse, however, India repelled the attack and even captured the Haji Pir Bulge, cutting off the entry and exit points into the Kashmir Valley. Operation Gibraltar failed and Pakistan then launched Operation Grand Slam in September 1965 in Chhamb and Jaurian sectors.  The Indian counter-attack resulted in engagement spreading to various sectors along the border, turning the armed skirmishes into full-scale war. The war continued till the United Nations negotiated a ceasefire on 22 September. The formal peace agreement was signed at Tashkent four months later on 10 January 1966. Both sides agreed to observe the ceasefire and withdraw their armed forces to positions being held before 5 August 1965. Both sides claimed victory in this war.

 

The book “1965 A Western Surprise: India’s war with Pakistan” by Shiv Kunal Verma, provides an encyclopedic, eloquent, and definitive account of the war. Shiv Kunal Verma, from an army family, is an acclaimed military historian, author, and filmmaker. He has worked with all the three wings of the Indian armed forces, in virtually all theatres, over the past two-and-a-half decades producing films on military-related issues. The author has gathered first-hand information by visiting places where the action took place during the war. He studied the terrain in detail and held numerous interviews with soldiers, officers, bureaucrats, and others who had a first-hand view of the 1965 conflict. The author even flew a few sorties in Canberra and Hunter aircraft that were used during the 1965 war. With his detailed research and first-hand information, he has been able to provide a factual picture, seeing through the fog of war.

 

The author traces the genesis of the Indo-Pak wars to factors like the British colonial misrule, religious differences, and cold war geopolitics. According to the author the fate of India, and that of Kashmir, had been sealed in 1919, when Britain’s India Office, prepared a plan to partition the Indian subcontinent based on religion. After independence and partition, the region became part of the larger cold war struggle between the United States and the Soviet Union. The book knits the political and military aspects holistically. It highlights the prevailing politico-military conditions in India and Pakistan.

 

In March 1963, Pakistan, under General Ayub Khan, had ceded the Shaksgam Valley in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to China. Pakistan military, Post-Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation (SEATO), and Central Treaty Organisation (CENTO) Agreements had received new weapons and equipment from the US, acquiring an edge over India in air power, armour, and artillery. In addition, its economy was doing extremely well. On the other hand, India was recovering from the 1962 Indo-China war. The prevailing civil-military relations were not in a healthy state, with the situation becoming worse with apathy toward essential requirements of the armed forces. Pakistan’s political scene was upbeat, and its military felt a sense of superiority over India. Against this backdrop, ambitious and reckless plans were made by Pakistan, trying to replicate what the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) had done in 1962. Unfortunately, Pakistan did not take into account the rapid changes that had taken place in the Indian military, post-1962.

 

Shiv Kunal Verma having done exhaustive research on all the aspects of the war, comprehensively describes the land and air battles fought during the war. The manner of describing the detailed accounts of various land and air battles, suggests that the author has a good understanding and grasp of operational concepts, and tactics. The book covers ground action in all sectors including, Rann of Kutch where the first salvos were fired, icy heights of Kargil, J&K, Haji Pir Bulge, Chamb, the plains of Punjab, and the deserts of Rajasthan. The author brings out the uniqueness of each sector, its set of challenges from the terrain and the weather, and the type of opposition both in quantity and quality. The book is replete with tales of skirmishes, air combat, tank battles, and para drops.

 

In the book, air warfare has also been covered with a great deal of impressive clarity. The book opens with the story about Flight Lieutenant Alfred Tyrone Cooke and his wingman in Hawker Hunters taking on four F-86 Sabres over Kalaikunda on 7 September, highlighting the dazzling display of aerial skills and creating history by shooting down two Sabres, while a third barely getting away. It brings out the excellence of Indian air warriors, highlighting the missions flown over Pakistan, including the photo-reconnaissance missions by Flying Officer Barbara in Kutch, Wing Commander Jag Mohan Nath in Punjab, and the bombing run of Peshawar by the Canberras. The author candidly brings out the strengths and weaknesses of the Indian Air Force. While he brings out that the Indian pilots emerged on top despite the limitations in their aircraft, due to superiority of tactics and high levels of training. He also exposes Indian weakness in air defence capability resulting in a loss of quite a few aircraft on the ground. The author also highlights the role of the Indian Navy in the 1965 War.  Indian Navy’s aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, with its complement of escort ships, Sea Hawks, and Alizes deployed on the western sea coast. Though the Indian Navy did not directly get involved, its presence in the Gulf of Kutch signalled the serious intent of India.

 

Besides covering details of the battles fought by the defence forces, the book also delves into aspects related to political and military leadership and strategy. The author is highly critical of the military leadership for poor planning and operational conduct during the war, attributing most of the blame to Army Chief Gen JN Chaudhuri. He blames the Chief of Army Staff for his failure to integrate the Indian Air Force and Navy into his war plans. According to him, Indian generals, often bungled in decision-making, and resorted to uncanny tactics. The author at the same time effusively praises the exemplary and heroic performance of the junior officers and troops. He believes that they acquitted themselves admirably despite the obsolete equipment and lack of intelligence. He feels that the few heroes that did emerge were the commanding officers and some of the younger officers.

 

The author lauds the steel will of Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri and admires him for not interfering in military matters. He also brings out the heavy pressures on him and the prevailing circumstances while making the decision to give up the Haji Pir Pass during the final negotiations at Tashkent.  He is also critical of the misplaced priorities and poor decision-making by the then defence minister Shri YB Chavan. The book brings out that the performance of Pakistani political and military leadership was also bad. Despite the advantage of better equipment and initiative in operations, they failed to achieve their objectives. Poor military leadership at the higher level by General Ayub Khan stands out as the principal reason for the failure of the Pakistan Army to inflict a decisive military defeat on India.

 

The success or failure of war depends upon the success or failure to achieve the political aim/objective. Pakistan failed to achieve its primary objective of annexing Kashmir. In the military domain, Pakistan suffered heavily in men and materials, despite superiority in arms and equipment. It is estimated that the Pakistan Army lost 5,800 soldiers, with many more wounded and missing. India lost 2,763 men; 8,444 wounded; and 1,507 missing. In terms of territory, India had occupied three times more territory than that occupied by Pakistan. Considering Pakistan Army’s numerical advantage in armour, artillery and other weapons, the Indian defence forces fared well. Several journalists and researchers have stated that India won the war, but some feel that the war was militarily inconclusive or ended in a draw. According to the author the war ended in a stalemate and both sides claimed victory.

 

Overall it is a comprehensive research work covering all aspects related to the 1965 Indo-Pak war. Its rich content makes it an excellent book for the students of military history. The book is of value to people from diverse backgrounds. It will be useful for analysts, military strategists, security mandarins, political scientists, diplomats, historians, and students & scholars of regional security.

 

Bottom Line

 Pakistan having realised that it cannot achieve its objectives through war with India, adopted the policy of “Bleed India through thousand cuts”.

 

Question

Will Pakistan ever change its policy wrt India?

 

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