INDO-PAK WAR 1965 September 2015 Tri-Services Seminar To Mark the Golden Jubilee n By Cmde Ranjit Rai EW DELHI. HQ Integrated Defence M Hamid Ansari, Vice President Of India, Staff (IDS) organised a two-day who was welcomed by Defence Minister Tri-Service Seminar to mark the Manohar Parrikar. Golden Jubilee of the 1965 War to Present on the occasion were Navy Chief describe how the Indian defence Admiral Robin Dhowan and Army Chief forces blunted the Pakistani attacks Gen Dalbir Singh. despite its superior equipment and Vice President Hamid Ansari gave a well element of surprise. researched chronology of the war with IDS Chief Air Marshal PP Reddy inputs from USA’s Secretary of State Dean and his Deputy, Vice Admiral GK Luthra, Rusk and listed the war objectives as PM Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar looks on as Vice welcomed the invitees and many veterans Shastri’s biographer has listed them which President Mr Hamid Ansari on behalf of Chairman Chiefs of Staff gives clues to India’s war effort: interacting with Chairman, Committee (COSC) Air Chief Marshal Arup l To defeat Pakistani attempt to seize COSC and Air Chief Arup Raha during Tri-Services Raha at the Army’s Manekshaw Centre. Kashmir by force and to make it abundantly Seminar in New Delhi The keynote address was delivered by Mr clear that Pakistan would never be allowed to wrest Kashmir from India. l To destroy the offensive power of Pakistan’s armed forces and l To occupy only the minimum of Pakistani territory necessary to achieve these purposes, which would be vacated after satisfactory conclusion of the war. Addressing the participants, the Vice President said, “This (seminar) is a befitting tribute to the gallantry and sacrifice of our soldiers and the resoluteness of our then political leadership in successfully defending India against invasion by a neighbour. It is also an occasion to introspect and to draw lessons from the experience undergone. The genesis of events which led to war lay in Pakistan’s obduracy and the fallacious belief in its establishment that it could use force to alter the geography and political realities of the sub- continent.” 14 IndiaSTRATEGIC September 2015 Mr Ansari observed that even though more complex, the Army Chief said, and Vice President Ansari Indian forces were taken by surprise by the Indian Army’s actions had increased (centre), Mr Parrikar, three Service Chiefs, in Pakistan’s menacing move, they fought in intensity in the past years, thanks to group photograph at the back strongly. The war was a costly military frequent ceasefire violations and infiltration inauguration of the “Tri- and political misadventure for Pakistan. by our Western neighbour, and the border Services Seminar Mr Parrikar welcomed the Vice President remains live and active. New methods and all veterans and explained how, as a are being employed to create unrest in young kid then, he listened to the All India J&K, and the recent incidents of terrorist Radio reports and how he felt the entire violence are clear pointers to Pakistan’s nation was one in that ordeal. He paid rich efforts to extend violence to other areas. tributes to the men of the Armed Forces. Speaking about the 1965 war, Gen Army Chief Gen Dalbir Singh elaborated Dalbir Singh paid homage to the brave on the legacy that the war had built in to martyrs who sacrificed their lives to save the Regimental histories of units and he the contours of India with raw courage, used words like a war of saga of dogged extraordinary greatness and dogged resolve of the Indian Army to overcome determination of the Indian military. Most the enemy. prominently, the Indian Army delivered a He said India continues to be pinpricked, blow to Pakistan across the entire western and the military needs to be ready for short front. The war settled many negative wars as the borders are alive with frequent myths, restored confidence and laid ground ceasefire violations and infiltration bids by work for the spectacular victory in 1971 six Pakistan. Future wars are going to short years later, he observed. and swift. This calls for maintaining very The Army Chief also paid tributes to the high level of operational preparedness at civilians for their overwhelming support. all times, pointing out that the Indian Army People cheered the troops across the has become more alert with the rise in the country. number of ceasefire violations by Pakistan. He saluted the brave veterans for their Our threats and challenges have become invaluable contribution and guidance. IndiaSTRATEGIC 15 INDO-PAK WAR 1965 September 2015 Mr Ansari with the Defence Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha recalled locomotive and petroleum depots. Minister and three Services the role of the Indian Air Force under the Naval Chief Admiral Dhowan recalled Chiefs leadership of Air Marshal Arjan Singh, DFC the history of the Indian Navy which had (now Marshal of the Indian Air Force), and only 27 ships in 1947 at Independence, how the Air Warriors displayed exemplary and then the acquisition of the three courage and gallantry and were decorated second hand Rajput class destroyers and with five Maha Vir Chakras and 44 Vir Chakras. three Godavari class frigates which were He referred to IAF’s support to the Army augmented by cruisers INS Delhi and by flying around 4000 sorties to drop 335 Mysore and eight newly-built frigates. tons of bombs during air raids in Pakistan. Aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was acquired PAF suffered a loss of 43 aircraft, a large in 1961 with Sea Hawk planes which were number of tanks, vehicles, railway wagons, used for the defence of Mumbai in the 16 IndiaSTRATEGIC September 2015 1965 war. The Indian Navy, he pointed out, armed forces. No single service can hope restricted the Pakistan Navy within its own and fight and win a war on its own,” he waters and could not play any offensive added and asserted, “We need a multi- role in the war. dimensional and a balanced naval force to Some 250 merchant ships were also protect our vast maritime interests.” escorted safely to and from Indian ports Two books were released on the Adm Dhowan during the war, and that was no mean occasion, Air Marshal Bharat Kumar’s stressed that achievement. The Duels of The Himalayan Eagle - The Adm Dhowan stressed that India needs First Indo-Pak Air War, and journalist Nitin India needs a multi-dimensional and a balanced naval Gokhale’s 1965, Turning the Tide: How a multi- force to protect its vast maritime interests India Won The War. and said, “One of the major takeaways Notably, the Army has not yet released dimensional from the war (1965) was that warships its official records of the war. The two and a and naval assets need to be deployed in books do throw some light though. an offensive role across the spectrum of In another session, former top military balanced operations to the enemy since they are leaders, Gen VP Malik, Lt Gen Ata Hasnain, naval force intended to go in harm’s way, adding “This Maj Gen Vijay Oberoi and Maj Gen Ian was the second war after Independence Cardoza covered the war with some to protect its and the first one in which the three armed personal examples of action in 1965. The vast maritime forces were deployed. post lunch session saw Air Chief Marshal “In the march to victory, there needs to AY Tipnis, Lt Gen Vijay Shankar, Air Marshal interests be total synergy and jointness between the Bharat Kumar, Vice Adm PS Das and Lt IndiaSTRATEGIC 17 INDO-PAK WAR 1965 September 2015 Heroism of Indian Soldiers should be DRDO's technologies have Taught in Schools: placed India among Driving Self Reliance world’s elite groups of: Parrikar for 4 nations to have multi- Strength, Security and Peace level Strategic Deterrence capabilities 5 nations to have its own Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD)program 6 nations to have developed a Nuclear-Powered Submarine 7 nations to have developed own Main Battle Tank and 4th plus generation Combat Aircraft Making India strong and self-reliant with Technology and Innovation, equipping India’s efence Minister Manohar Parrikar has suggested inclusion Armed Forces with state-of-the-art weapons Dof stories of gallantry and systems, platforms, equipment, related materials sacrifices of brave Indian soldiers in & processes and technology solutions and have the school curriculum. This is essential so as to instil the spirit of patriotism helped in taking the level of indigenisation and values in the minds of the future from 30% to 55%. On the path of self reliance, generations. DRDO has taken along over 1000 industries Addressing the Tri-Service seminar on the Golden Jubilee Commemoration and large number of academic / research of the 1965 Indo-Pak War, he pointed institutes. out that despite limitations ,the Indian Armed Forces displayed their spirited professional approach and gained Gen DP Shekatkar speak time he dealt with the higher defence With `1,60,000 crore worth of considerable praise and respect of all about their services actions, management as an Army Chief and finally products inducted or approved for the countrymen. and all were in defence of it was left to Ambassador KS Bajpai who induction in Indian Armed Forces, what each service did and minced no words and gave a minute to appreciated how jointness could have minute account of the Tashkent meeting many of them having huge export made India do better. in January 1966. potential, DRDO continues its On day two of the seminar, a galaxy of march on path of excellence in former diplomats, Ambassadors Kanwal CONCLUSION Sibal and G Parthasarthy – a former The celebrations are still on while India developing cutting edge Army officer who was at Pathankot Strategic goes to print with its Special defence technologies.