Story of Operation Gibraltar (1965)

August 06, 2021

Story of Operation Gibraltar (1965)

Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah asked a question to President General Ayub Khan in 1964. She asked that American military aid to India was the talk of the town. And India would use this aid against Pakistan. "I want to know how it happened." America was your friend. Why did you lose this friend? Everyone living in the East and the West Pakistan wanted to get the answer to this question. This question came up in the early era of Ayub Khan when industrial development was fast taking place.

Now it had become clear that this progress was due to Pakistan's support to America against Russia. In return Pakistan had secured economic aid from America. This aid was being spent on the construction of Tarbela, Mangla dams and many other projects. But the Indo-China war in 1962, changed the scenario. America turned its face on Pakistan and started to give military aid to India. On the one side, America was giving military aid to India on the other, India was annexing Kashmir to its territory.

It was a two-way loss to Pakistan. Meaning, no American aid and also losing Kashmir. This was the situation General Akhtar Malik was preparing for Operation Gibraltar in. Pakistan, America ties were deteriorating in the 1960s. Then an incident in 1965 stunned Pakistan. That in order to aid Pakistan, the US at the head of the World Bank had formed a consortium of many states. The World Bank deferred an important meeting of the Consortium for two months under the US pressure.

This act clearly meant cut off economic aid to Pakistan. This action had a vital reason that was strengthening ties of Pakistan with China and Russia. In response to this step, Pakistan threatened America with severing ties. Pakistan also declined to give up friendship with China and Russia for the sake of America. Foreign Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto also grumbled that the 'Uncle Sam' (the US) despite protest by Pakistan had been giving unlimited military aid to India, while Pakistan never betrayed its friends. After the US aid was cut off, anti-America protests took place across Pakistan. Students campaigned for boycotting the US products while survival without foreign aid and self-reliance became the household slogan.

The local Press had unleashed the propaganda that Ayub Khan's statements had baffled America. Ayub Khan at every forum was talking about supporting and promoting friendship with China. He wanted to keep Pakistan's foreign policy independent. While America wanted Pakistan to frame the foreign policy in the US interest. The America thought did not match with Pakistan's stand of independent foreign policy. Z.A.Bhutto who termed himself a soldier of Ayub Khan, stated that Pakistan would not compromise on its sovereignty for the sake of foreign aid.

Addressing to the nation, President Ayub Khan categorically said about not accepting the foreign aid at the expense of sovereignty of the state and asked the people to get ready for giving sacrifice. In sum and substance, Pakistan was angry with America rather furious over its conduct. Besides America, Pakistan also had tension with India over Rann of Kutch. So partly the US infidelity and partly increasing military power of India, threats, clashes and Indian refusal to hold talk on Kashmir issue, shared to boil up the lava that erupted in August 1965.

Maj Gen. Akhtar Hussain Malik had started to train six Forces for Operation Gibraltar on June 1, 1965. The Forces were named after the Islamic commanders Tariq, Qasim, Khalid, Salahuddin, Ghaznvi and Babar. Salahuddin was the largest Force with six companies of total around 700 Jawans. Ghaznvi was the second largest with five companies of total around 600 Jawans. The smallest Force was the Babar comprising only 34 Jawans. Salahuddin Force was tasked to control Sri Nagar and Barahmulla on entering the Held Kashmir. Jammu was the target of the Ghaznvi Force.

The rest 4 Forces were tasked to target bridges, military bases and public buildings all over Held Kashmir One SSG commando was also included in every Force. Excepting SSG commandos and some officers of the Pak Army, all Forces in the Operation were, manned by Azad Force, Northern Scouts and Volunteers. Every Force was given 7 days' ration, 200 bullets each for the rifles, 400 bullets each for the sten-guns 900 bullets each for the Light Machine Guns and 30 rockets each for the rockets launchers. Every Jawan was also given eight hand grenades.

Apart from the six Forces, another 14 Forces were also raised which were named Nusrat Forces. These Forces were titled in alphabetical order. The Nusrat Forces comprised 100 to 350 Jawans. These Forces were to attack the Indian army on the Ceasefire Line with the start of the Operation Gibraltar So that the Indian forces get engaged on the spot and do not act against the Gibraltar Forces in Kashmir. It was not clear what was the exact number of the Gibraltar and the Nusrat Forces. Some counted this number 8000 or so, India estimated this number at 3000 while the BBC mentioned the total number of the 30,000 Jawans.

August 7, 1965 was the fixed D-day means, the launching day of the Operation Gibraltar. But the Forces had begun to enter the Occupied Kashmir in the last week of July. The 12-Division kept the Indian troops engaged by continuous firing on the Ceasefire Line. On the other, the Jawans of the Forces had entered Kashmir crossing over as high as 12000-ft Mountains. Majority of the Jawans who took part in the Operation was quite young. Six of the 10 Jawans were the ordinary citizens.

One Muhammad Nazir who reached Poonch, was then only 14. He was the youngest but the spirit of everyone was very high. The Ceasefire Line was crossed successfully yet many tests laid ahead. Many difficult ditches were yet to be passed through for the success of the Operation. Gibraltar Forces were told about the help to them by certain people in the Occupied Kashmir. Every Force was also told names of the secret helpers.

It was also expected the Kashmiri people would also help them against the Indian army. Because they were already fuming over the theft of the Holy Hair, rearrests of Sheikh Abdullah and the harsh treatment of the Indian forces. However after crossing the Ceasefire Line it dawned upon the Forces that things were not as they were told. No-one came to help the Gibraltar Forces nor did the people come out. The guides of the Forces also deserted them.

But the worst of all was elimination of the element of surprise about the Operation Gibraltar. Because the Indian forces had learned about the Operation Gibraltar beforehand. In the first week of August villagers in the border areas had informed the police about the presence of highly alert, armed strangers around their localities. Moreover, a Jawan of the Salahuddin Force was captured by the Indian army on August 5. The Indian army leaned through it the presence of a large number of guerilla forces in the Valley. Salahuddin Force committed another mistake by bribing a shepherd to know from him about the route. But this shepherd instead, went to a nearby police station and recounted what he had seen. When the element of surprise had vanished, wait for the D-day of attack on August 7 became a futile exercise. The Gibraltar Forces were to take a prompt action not to let the Indian forces come fully prepared against them. So first attack was made.

This attack was carried out on the night between 5 and 6 August on the Indian 4-Kumoan Battalion. This Battalion was having a farewell party before return to India. All of a sudden the Indian army camp came under severe firing. The Indian soldiers had not yet not come out of party excitements when a nearby bridge was attacked. A contingent of the Indian army reached the bridge in confusion and saw 11 security men were lying dead.

Another three were also lying injured. Bombs were also tied to their bodies to blow out the bridge but only one had exploded. It did not cause much damage to the bridge. The sound of intense firing was echoing everywhere in the Valley Now the sound of the bullets had been compounded by the sound of a radio broadcast in this very Valley. A new radio started its transmission in the Occupied Valley on August 8.

The name of this secret radio broadcast was Sadae Kashmir (the voice of Kashmir). This radio announced war of freedom in the Held Kashmir. It also broadcast that a Revolutionary Council had been set up for the freedom of Kashmir. That anyone departing from the freedom struggle would be severely taken to task. The radio also announced to renounce all agreements Kashmir had reached with the Indian government.

India put ban on the Radio Sadae Kashmir while Pakistan welcomed its transmissions. The local press also published the frequency of this radio so that everyone got access to its voice. The public was also told that evening was the best time to hear to its broadcast clearly. The Azad Kashmir government also announced to supply war material to the Revolutionary Council. Operation Gibraltar was touching the peak yet it was only the beginning as a matter of fact.

The voice of Radio Sadae Kashmir threw the whole Valley into a war. The Radio claimed on August 11 that Kashmiri Mujahedeen had killed 1000 Indian soldiers. That Mujahedeen had besieged Sri Nagar after capturing many of its downtown areas. That the police in a number of stations had joined the Mujahedeen. That three Brigade Headquarters had also been attacked. That the attacks had cut off link between Sri Nagar and Jammu.

A state of emergency was clamped in the Occupied Kashmir. The Indian army had yet not recovered from the Mujahedeen attacks when civil disobedience started. Posters of the Revolutionary Council were pasted everywhere in Kashmir. Kashmiris were told through the posters not to pay taxes and raise to break the shackles of Indian slavery. Radio Sadae Kashmir also asked the UN for not intervening into the war for freedom.

It also demanded the pro-Indian government of the Occupied Kashmir to surrender. The press also published pictures of the bridges pulled down by the Gibraltar Forces. The Indian troops in serious losses were also shown in the press. And the injured Indian soldiers were being taken to Delhi for treatment. India also responded to Operation Gibraltar by sending the troops and the police to Kashmir at a large scale.

Curfew was imposed in all major cities of Kashmir. Salahuddin Force also blew out a supply depot while encircling Sri Nagar airport. Dozens of police men were also killed in attacks on the Police Lines. President Ayub on the occasion of Independence Day of Pakistan openly supported the Operation Gibraltar. He said no-one could put out the fire in the heart of Kashmiris for freedom from India. President Ayub told India that time still provided opportunity for peaceful settlement of Kashmir issue.

Indian PM Lal Bahadur Shastri was highly furious over Operation Gibraltar and the statements of Ayub Khan. Shastri said Pakistan could not capture even an inch of the Occupied Kashmir. The fight between two neighbors intensified amid hostile statements and the sound of the gunshots. Then came the time when all bridges around Sri Nagar were destroyed. The city got cut off from the rest of the world. Jawans of the Salahuddin Force and the Indian troops were openly fighting on the streets of Sri Nagar.

As many as 150 Indian soldiers had been killed and many arms depots destroyed in that fighting. Pakistanis and Kashmiris unaware of the Operation Gibraltar, believed Mujahedeen were fighting in Kashmir. They were praying for their successes. A Jihad Council was also set up in Azad Kashmir for the help of Mujahedeen. Rallies were held in Murree for Kashmiris and solving Kashmir dispute in the battlefield became a public voice.

Indian troops dug out trenches in Sri Nagar. Planes and the whole war machinery was put to use in this battle. The Indian army took over the control of the entire Occupied Kashmir. Claims were made about the arrest of a larger number of attackers. While house to house search was also continuing. Salahuddin Force as per its plan was also going ahead with attacks on the enemy. The Force also attacked the Sri Nagar airport but it proved a failure.

General public was the real and the worst victim of the fight between the Gibraltar Forces and the Indian army. Like in an incident, the Indian troops set on fire 15 villages. As many as 150 innocent Kashmiris had lost their lives in that incident. The Gibraltar Forces were particularly targeting the Indian officers in their activity. In a like attack, a Brigadier of the Indian Army was killed. The Press reported that Sikhs soldiers in the Indian army had declined to open fire at the Mujahedeen.

Radio Sadae Kashmir in a broadcast on August 23, claimed liberating Barahmulla from India. An Indian plane was also destroyed at the Poonch airport. In another broadcast, the Radio Sadae Kashmir also claimed the killing of 500 Indian soldiers. That another 400 Indian soldiers had been killed and two battalion headquarters blown out. That Gibraltar Forces had captured Chamb and an Indian Colonel and four majors killed in the attack Sadae Kashmir announced defeat was inevitable to India in the war. Despite all these successes Gibraltar Forces failed to defeat the Indian army in Occupied Kashmir. And it had a reason.

That India had a strong supply line while airforce and the artillery were fully helping the Indian troops. On the other hand only 700 Pakistani Jawans without air and the artillery help were out to conquer Srinagar. Obviously such a little force was not able to retain hold on the City for a longer time. It was the reality that dawned up Major Muhammad Mansha of Salahuddin Force when within two weeks of the Operation, the enemy had surrounded his entire Force in Sri Nagar.

In other areas too, Jawans of the Gibraltar Force began to be encircled by the Indian army. These Jawans did not have supplies nor do military help from any other source. Pakistan had dubbed the Jawans, Mujahedeen so Pak Army was unable to help them across the Cease-fire Line. Now these Jawans were alone but determined to fight till the last bullet and last drop of blood. However, they began to come back when all hopes of success died down.

But the way back was also very arduous. The Indian army had already taken position on the route the Jawans had to take for return. Many Jawans fell victim to the Indian firing while coming back. Among them was one Muhammad Yousef who had married a year ago. His colleagues dragged his body inside the Ceasefire Line. He had been martyred before the birth of his son. There were a number of such Jawans who had lost their lives in attack on both sides.

The Indian airforce continued bombardment on the retreating Jawans. In that actions, Indian war planes were frequently entering Pakistan that warned them of shooting down. Indian army had also begun to bomb the Azad territory along the Ceasefire Line. On the other hand Indian troops were setting the villages on fire in the occupied territory. This action aimed at denying refuge to the Jawans of Gibraltar Operation in forests and the fields.

The Indian army in that course also bombed a Pakistani village near Working Boundary in Gujrat. This attack killed 20 villagers. Surrounded by the Indian troops, Salahuddin Force in Sri Nagar also had no option but to retreat. So commander of the Force Major Muhammad Mansha ordered retreat. But these Jawans had unabated encounter with the Indian army throughout the way back. These Jawans eventually reached Azad Kashmir.

The other Forces had no reason to stay in Occupied Kashmir after return of the Salahuddin Force. Some Forces had already come back due to end to the supplies. All soldiers were called back one by one from Occupied Kashmir. Only one Force was left out. It was the Ghaznvi Force. It stayed in the Occupied Kashmir till the end of September 1965 Indo-Pak war. It had freed 500square miles area of Jammu and established its government there.

This Force had completely eliminated a battalion of the Indian army. The commander of the Ghaznvi Force, Major Munawar, formed a police force of the Kashmiris. He also appointed tehsildars in the villages. Major Munawar refused to obey the order to come back after the war was over. He said he could not leave the Kashmiris to the oppression of the Indian forces. But the order to come back was final which he ultimately accepted with heavy heart.

So by the end of August 1965, failure of the Operation Gibraltar had been sealed. In this situation, Friday August 27, was observed as the 'day of prayers' for the freedom of Kashmir Operation Gibraltar had been failed yet no letup come to the war of words on both sides. This war picked up momentum. India was openly charging Pakistan for action in Occupied Kashmir. Bhutto in response accused India of forcing the Kashmiris to revolt.

Indian PM said Pakistan would be made to pay heavily for instigating the Kashmir people to revolt. Bhutto in reply warned the Indian leaders against passing threats of war to Pakistan. He belied the Indian claim that had termed the Kashmiri Mujahedeen as Pakistanis. Bhutto's statements were meant for Pakistanis only. The world community was not accepting Pakistan's stand that Mujahedeen were fighting in Kashmir.

So including the US many states did not support Pakistan. It caused loss to Pakistan. The US had already postponed meeting of the consortium for aid to Pakistan. Now the US was poised to end permanently the military and the economic aid to Pakistan holding it responsible for revolt in Occupied Kashmir. On a signal from America, the World Bank also stopped Pakistan from constructing Tarbela Dam. This act also terminated the Mangla dam project.

India also canceled the meeting of the Indo-Pak Foreign Ministers. India was already taking strict steps against Pakistan at the diplomatic front. But it was also preparing for giving a big surprise to Pakistan on the military front.

Success of Rann of Kutch and Operation Gibraltar