As expected and feared by India watchers after last year’s electoral victory by BJP, India under Modi is well poised on a collision course with Pakistan, reinforcing his anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan credentials. There are very strong portents to suggest that India is working on a well conceived plan to harm Pakistan economically and militarily. The overt and covert efforts by India to sabotage the implementation of CPEC on the diplomatic level and through RAW-sponsored terrorist acts with Pakistan, efforts to scuttle the new-found bonhomie between Pakistan and Afghanistan through its agents and contacts in Afghanistan, pursuance of anti-Pakistan diplomatic initiative in the gulf countries, repeated violations of the LOC and the working boundary and bellicose blustering by the Indian leaders about teaching Pakistan a lesson and sabotaging the talks between Security Advisers are signs of Indias hegemonic designs. The façade of talks with Pakistan is actually being used as a smoke screen to hoodwink the international community by portraying Pakistan as an un-willing partner in promoting regional peace.
Some circles see these machinations may a prelude to preparing ground for possibly a limited military adventure against Pakistan; a policy option that reportedly has been resonating in Indian military circles ever since Modi government has been installed. On the internal front efforts are also on the anvil to build war-hysteria against Pakistan. The Modi government probably feels that Pakistan at the moment was most vulnerable due its military being engaged in operation Zarb-e-Azb, fighting terrorism and insurgency throughout the country and minding the Pak-Afghan border. The Indian military strategists and the Indian government seem under the illusion that it was an appropriate time to prove their ascendency in military prowess and forcing Pakistan into accepting the Indian hegemony in the region.
The Indian leadership is in complete disconnect with the ground realities, the military might of Pakistan and the preparedness and capability of its armed forces to defend the motherland against any external aggression. They proved their credentials in 1965 war. Pakistan is now a nuclear power and its defense forces are far better equipped to deal with any eventuality. International defense analysts are of the considered view that in case of a military confrontation between the two countries, India would be biggest loser. India while entertaining any thought of military aggression against Pakistan must not forget the lessons of 1965 war and the faith-driven valour of the armed forces of Pakistan and the sons of the soil, who through their heroic and awe-inspiring gallantry thwarted her evil designs.
Perhaps a brief account of the 1965 war would remind the Indians what would be in store for them 50 years down the line if they ever dared to take a plunge into military confrontation with Pakistan as well as to refresh the memories of the people who witnessed the military confrontation between the two countries. When India launched full-fledged attack against Pakistan on 6th of September and crossed the international borders—-after its army suffered incessant set-backs in the fight in Jammu and Kashmir—- with an avowed aim of capturing Lahore, it met with unprecedented resistance by the Pakistan Army. The Indian forces could not go beyond BRB canal despite having superiority in military might and military hardware at its disposal. Their repeated assaults were beaten back and for the rest of the duration of war and they were forced to back-off; thanks to the unrivalled bravery of Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Nishan-e-Haider and the men under his command. Pakistan Army not only defended Lahore but also launched a counter-attack and captured Khem Karan and Munabao.
Having failed to achieve their objective on the Lahore sector, the Indian launched an offensive towards Sialkot and advanced up to Chawainda, where the biggest tank battle after the World War II was fought and the Indian Armoured Division was forced to withdraw after suffering losses of nearly 100 tanks. Chawinda witnessed myriad of unbelievable acts of bravery on part of the army personnel. When the war finally ended after 17 days through a ceasefire both Pakistan and India held each other’s territory. As far as the ground battle was concerned Pakistan almost enjoyed parity with India.
However, Pakistan Air Force decidedly enjoyed ascendency over the Indian Air force which was five times bigger in size; a fact corroborated by international defense analysts. The PAF in addition to assisting the ground forces also hit targets in India and engaged attacking Indian fighters in several dog fights. At the end of the war the Indians had lost more aircraft than Pakistan. India claimed that it had downed 73 PAF planes and lost 59, while PAF claimed that it had shot down 104 Indian planes and lost 19 of its own. The Indian claims of downing 73 Pakistani planes were certainly exaggerated in view of the fact that when Pakistan entered war it had a fleet of 138 fighter aircraft and it flew 116 aircraft in a parade just after the war corroborating its assertion that it had lost only 19 aircraft. However according to independent sources PAF lost 25 aircraft against 60-75 by India (25 in air combat). Despite disagreement on the exact figures, the fact remains that Pakistan Air Force had the upper hand and its pilots added a golden chapter to the history of PAF through their flying skills and valour. The name of M M Alam who shot down 5 Indian planes in a minute in a dog fight would always stand out as a beacon light for defenders of Pakistan.
These achievements of the Pakistan defense forces of course were possible due to an impregnable national unity and unstinted support and backing of the people of Pakistan. The spirit of patriotism witnessed during the 1965 war was phenomenal. I am personally witness to some of the rare events and acts of patriotism by the people, their love and support for the armed forces and their resolve to defend the mother land at all costs. I feel the revival of the same spirit as witnessed during 1965 war as far as backing the armed forces in fighting against the anti-Pakistan forces and thwarting the designs of the enemies, is concerned. Pakistan Army and Air force have almost won the battle against terrorists by dismantling their infrastructure in North Waziristan. Army is determined to take this war to its logical end. At the same time the defense forces, as well as the nation, are also ready to deal with external threats and aggression in a befitting manner. Nobody should entertain any doubts about it Pakistan however believes in peaceful co-existence on the basis of sovereign equality as is evident by its overtures to India for the resolution of disputes through dialogue, regrettably spurned by Modi government.