PAF in Defence of Lahore

Columnist Air Cdre Qadeer Ahmad Hashmi relives PAF’s role in protecting LAHORE in 1965.

“Pakistan knows that it prevented the Indian Army from crossing the last defence before Lahore, the BRB Canal, and saved itself from a major defeat. Much of the credit has gone to a single company of the 3 Baluch Regiment, which held up the Indians for several hours. But what few know is that the PAF also had a major role in stalling the Indians”. “The lead Brigade of Indian 15 Infantry Division was about to throw a bridgehead across the BRB canal when it was attacked by F-86s that strafed it and other elements of the division up and down the Grand Trunk Road, throwing the Indians into confusion, delaying the advance, and thus allowing Pakistan 10 Division to assume its forward positions which ended the Indian hope of a quick victory”. This is the analysis presented by two prolific Indian writers on defence and aerospace matters, Pushpinder Singh and Ravi Rikhye, in their book ‘FIZA’‘A’-Psyche of the Pakistan Air Force”. Most of those present in Lahore during 1965 war only recall the famous dogfight that they witnessed standing on their rooftops on 19 Sept. But very few would know that the PAF also played a decisive role in defence of Lahore on the very first day of the war.

Under code name ‘Operation RIDDLE’ XI Indian Corps was launched in Lahore/Kasur Sector at first light 06 September. Lieutenant General JS Dhillon, Commander XI Corps had planned a simultaneous advance towards Lahore with three infantry divisions, (15 Div, 7 Div and 4 Mountain Div) on a frontage of about fifty miles from three directions. 10 Infantry Division of Pakistan Army located at Lahore was the first to feel the impact of the Indian attack. The Division was in the process of deploying itself when the Indians were preparing to move. Indian forces having crossed the international border at dawn on 6 September had pushed the Rangers posts and by 1000 hours the leading Indian Battalion (3 Jat) had crossed the bridge over the BRB Link canal near Bata Shoe Factory. All this while Pakistan Army’s 3 Baloch Regiment gave a wonderful account of battle in resisting the Indian advance.

While the Indian Army hoped to achieve its military objectives very quickly without support from IAF, the PAF kept vigilance and prepared itself to respond to any call for support to Pakistani troops. Such was the scenario when No. 19 Squadron, led by then squadron Leader Sajjad Haider was tasked to deal with the situation.

Air Commodore (Retd) Sajjad Haider while recollecting the mission narrates:- “On the morning of 6th September, we were tasked to destroy enemy artillery in Samba (Sialkot) area that was causing extensive damage to our army formations. After detailed mission briefing our formation of six Sabers took off from Peshawar. Reaching close to Gujranwal, we had descended to low level and were heading for Samba area when I heard our Air Defence Commander, Air Commodore Masroor Hussain on radio. He called me by name (not a normal practice) and asked me to discontinue the mission and instead head towards Lahore and take on the Indian army troops threatening to capture Lahore. Hearing this I was enraged. Lahore is the heart of Pakistan and one couldn’t even imagine Indian tanks entering Lahore. But this was not the time for emotions. We had a lot of work to do. Flying at 60-70 feet above ground at a speed of 500 miles/hr, we had to re-look at our maps and recalculate our course to the new target area. All I was told that we had to head for Barki area. I decided to follow GT road all the way to Lahore. It was at about 0930 Hrs that we flew past Lahore. Later, for many years many “Lahories” kept telling me that as our formation roared across at such a low altitude it appeared as if the sound barrier had been broken. Anyway, we continued to follow the GT Road and within about 2 minutes we were over Amritsar. Thanks to the Indian Anti-Aircraft Artillery as I could only recognize Amritsar because the Indian guns defending radar had started firing and the sky was full of dark smoke clouds. We quickly made a turn about and started to weave along the road looking for the enemy. Within about a minute and a half we were able to spot a number of tanks. As they were well inside the Pakistan’s territory I took them for our own and decided to make a low pass over them. Reaching on top as I inverted my aircraft I spotted the ‘Saffron Roundel’ painted on them. I can’t explain what my feelings were and what I uttered in rage at that time. All I can tell you is that in next about 20 minutes most of the enemy tanks and vehicles were burning all around and the area had turned into the graveyard of attacking Indian forces, aspiring to have whisky at the Lahore Gymkhana Club. Let me tell you that the Indian plan had all ingredients of success except one. They miscalculated the intangible factors i.e. the valour of Pakistani troops, their resolve to defend the motherland and the professional excellence of the PAF. This is what made the difference. It was for our completely outnumbered army troops to absorb the initial impact and then God gave No 19 Sqn a chance to play its role in stalling the enemy offensive. The entire credit goes to my team of brave and young fighter pilots who were just 19-20 years of age at that time. Interestingly, our last mission on the seventeenth day of war was also in the same area. Meaning thereby that the Indians had not advanced a step from where we had halted them on day one”:. No 19 Squadron of Pakistan Air Force flew the maximum operational missions without losing an aircraft or a pilot during 1965 war. Seven of its pilots were awarded Sitara-e-Jurat. The pilots who flew the mission along with then Squadron Leader Sajjad Haider were as follows:-

Flight Lieutenant M. Akbar (Air Commodore Retired)

Flight Lieutenant Dilawar Hussain (Air Marshal Retired)

Flight Lieutenant Ghani Akbar (Squadron Leader Retired)

Flying Officer Khalid Latif (Group Captain Retired)

Flying Officer Arshad Chaudhry (Air Marshal Retired. Ex-Vice Chief of the Air Staff)

PAF flew a total of over 500 sorties in support of Pak Army; many of them with similar success. But the mission flown in defence of Lahore on 6 Sept had a special significance, which has been recorded in the Official Diary of 10 Division. “At this critical juncture, 6 PAF Sabres appeared, and for 20 minutes wrought havoc on Indian armour and infantry who were advancing in the open trying to cross the canal”. Thanks to the flexibility of Air Power and aggressive employment of the PAF that the threat to Lahore was thwarted.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Air Commodore Qadeer Ahmad Hashmi was commissioned in June, 1976. Apart from serving as fighter pilot in Pakistan Air Force he has held various command and staff assignments. He is graduate of Iranian Staff College and Armed Forces War Course at the National Defence College. He holds Master’s degree in War Studies. For this meritorious services he has been awarded Sitara-e-Basalat by the Government of Pakistan