September 6, 1965, will forever live in the history of Pakistan, as a sterling moment when the nation - its armed forces and citizens - came together to defy the might of Indias full-fledged aggression and were able to carry the day, despite seemingly insurmountable odds. For those of us who are old enough to have experienced the exhilaration of the day are left with an indelible imprint of its import, thrill and an embracing flush of patriotism. Pakistan had been attacked without a warning and even the news of Lahores fall - God forbid - had been flashed on the international media. The next 17 days were precarious, but with Allahs blessing the entire nation rose as one to thwart the Indian design of imposing a military defeat on Pakistan. Indias military objective was to impose paralysis on Pakistan by cutting the Grand Trunk Road at Gujranwala. To secure this design, the Indians planned their major offensives in two adjoining corridors defined by the Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej Rivers. Their smaller offensive was directed at the sensitive city of Lahore by the launching of three infantry divisions and an armoured brigade in the area between Ravi and Sutlej Rivers; with bridges over the Ravi at Shahdara identified as the final objective. Once a major segment of the Pakistani forces had been rushed to defend Lahore, the Indians planned to launch 1 (Indian) Armoured Division, along with three Infantry Divisions, in the Ravi-Chenab corridor, skirting around Sialkot, to cut the GT Road between Gujranwala and Wazirabad. The area presented tremendous possibilities for the Indian 1 Armoured Division, since it was most suited for tank battles and a determined thrust from this direction could help India decide the fortunes of war, according to its wishes. In due course, Lahore and Sialkot emerged as symbols of national will around which major and bitter battles were fought. At the Lahore Front, 10 Division occupied its defences just in time to face the Indian three-pronged onslaught, which materialised on the night between September 5 and 6. In contrast to their grand ambitions (General Chaudhry, the Indian C-in-C, wanted to sip champagne at the Lahore Gymkhana), the Indians could only gain minor toeholds across the BRB Canal, which were effectively cut off by determined counter attacks by the Pakistan Army. By September 11, the situation had stabilised along the canal on whose banks Major Aziz Bhatti Shaheed earned his Nishan-i-Haider and everlasting fame in defending Lahore in the face of desperate Indian onslaughts. While the defence of Lahore proved to be the most decisive and crucial phase of the war, the Indian pride and ambitions were thrown to dust in the Sialkot sector. Driving wedge of a 50-mile deep armoured led thrust, the Indians wanted to cut the lines of communications leading to Sialkot as well as Lahore sectors around Gujranwala and force a battle of reversed frontiers in these vital sectors. With this dangerous design in mind after a diversionary attack on Jassar on September 6, major Indian offensive in the Sialkot sector materialised on the same day. As 26 Indian Division attacked Sialkot from two directions, 1 Indian Armoured Division (Fakhr-i-Hind - the pride of India), along with six Mountain Division and 14 Division, advanced on twin axes; Charwa-Badiana and Chobara-Phillaurah-Chawinda, to brush aside the resistance in its way and then race for the depth of Pakistans heartland. For the next three days, the Indian assault was resisted by only one infantry brigade and an amour unit of the Pakistan Army. Allahs help was evident, as only a handful of these determined men and a few tanks stood in the way of the onslaught and imposed such caution on the Indian commanders that they failed to generate the full potential of their mighty Armoured Division. At Chawinda, an intense armour battle was contested that conclusively devastated the aggressive Indian ambitions of imposing a comprehensive military defeat on Pakistan. The Indian armour pressed hard on September 13 and 14, but the focal points of Chawinda-Badiana remained outside their grasp. By September 21, it was obvious to India that they had failed to vanquish Pakistans indomitable will and had to agree to a ceasefire. The 1965 war can rightly be attributed as a milestone in the history of our nation and September 6 provides us with an opportunity to reflect on various dimensions of its significance. First, this war was fought for our very survival. Indias objective was very clear: To break the will of the Pakistani nation by forcing a military defeat by reaching the depth of our hinterland. The challenge was very tangible and we had to come to grips with the dangerous situation banking entirely on our own resources. It was Allahs blessings, the credible force of our arms, the valour and grit of our armed forces, and the indomitable spirit of the people that enabled us to prove equal to the challenge. Second, the September war bared Indias hostility towards the existence of our country and sharply outlined the threat its military potential poses to Pakistan. The reflections of this war bring out the imperatives of maintaining a credible balance of military deterrence vis--vis India, as the only means of avoiding a future war and for ensuring the survival of the nation. In this context, it becomes essential to strike a judicious balance in the guns versus bread dilemma that so starkly confronts us. We can never match India bayonet to bayonet and plane to plane. Yet, the bottom line remains that within the parameters defined by economic constraints, only military preparedness shall deter aggression and ensure our survival, as a nation since the threat, with the passage of time, has only grown more menacing. Third, it proved beyond any doubt that to think that the outcome of war is dependent only on the numerical strength and resources of a country is wrong and dangerous. It is the unity of the people and their faith that makes a nation truly invincible. September 65 united the people of Pakistan, who transcending all differences rose as one in supporting their soldiers to face the formidable challenge. Lastly, the war comprehensively highlighted the importance of safeguarding our ideological frontiers that provide a nation with its spiritual and ideological foundations, which truly are the fountainhead of national strength. In an environment when our adversary continues to strike at the nations ideological moorings, the defence of this vital frontier acquires added importance. The writer is an independent columnist.