SECTION 3 - (CHAPTER 14)

STATEMENT RE. DEFENCE OPERATIONS

Lok Sabha on 10 September, 1965

I would like to appraise the house of developments since I made a statement two days ago, about our measures to deal with the Pakistani aggression on our territory.

In the Jammu - Sialkot sector, a heavy battle has been fought with the Pakistani troops who brought in concentrated armour to resist our advancing forces, We have, nevertheless, made a substantial advance and held our position after inflicting heavy loss on the enemy. As many as 28 Pakistani tanks were destroyed by our troops in this ground battle and we have taken a large number of prisoners. Inevitably, we have also suffered sub stantial loss of armour in the battle though much less than Pakistan.

In the Dera Baba Nanak area, not withstanding the blowing up of the  Pakistanis, our patrols have advanced to the other side of the bridge by the Pakistanis, our Patrols have advanced to the other side of the river. Heavy shelling is now being done from both the sides.

In the Wagha sector, Pakistan has made very heavy counter - attacks which continued throughout last night. All these attacks have been repulsed.

In the Kharla axis our progress is satisfactory.

In the Kasur sector, the Pakistanis have put up very heavy counter -attacks with tanks and we have had to withdraw from our forward position. In this fighting our ground troops destroyed as many as 23 tanks in one day, that is, on the 9th instant. Pakistan has heavily shelled our troops at our border near Ferozepur but we are holding our position. Some shells have fallen on Ferozepur town. 

In the Sulemanki sector, all Pakistani attacks have been repulsed and after one battle alone, 70 Pakistani dead have been counted by us.

In the Jammu and Kashmir area, there is little to report except that intermittent firing goes on. In the Jaurian area, the position is unchanged. Our troops moving from the Poonch side have continued their advance north -eastwards and have again captured a couple of posts.

Enemy action in attacking Jamnagar airport and bombarding Port Dwaraka rendered preventive action necessary in that area. In the Barmer -Pakistan sector, further patrol activity is going on to gauge Pakistan’s moves.