5Abi

Although a little out of context, one is reminded of a conversation between an Indian prisoner of war captured at Jurian and a Pakistani Sepoy. The Indian asked him, "where did you Pakistanis get all this ammunition from". "Well", the Pakistani sepoy said a little too seriousl, "It is a secret but as you will be safely behind the barbed wire, I do not mind telling you. We captured large number of ammunition dumps during Kutch operations which we used at Chhamb. Then we captured more ammunition at Chhamb which we used at Jurian. To-day we have captured so much ammunition that we can use it elsewhere if you attack us again". It is not reported what the Indian replied, but that ammunition also was usefully employed.

In the meantime 6 Infantry brigade had also arrived in the area. C-in-C, General Mohammad Musa had ordered this Brigade to be located in area South of Jatrai and to eliminate any Indian encroachments up to Biar Bet.

On night 23/24 April the operation was taken in hand. 6 Punjab put in attack against point 84 which had since the last raid been reoccupied by the Indians in greater strength. The enemy was given the impression that the objective was the feature known as Chad Bet. The enemy holding this position was the crack Indian 50 Para Brigade and was supported by 17 Para Field Regiment in addition to a mortar battery. The enemy positions were well dug in, with overhead cover and complete network of communication trenches. Command posts, MMG posts and well dug in store and ammunition dumps. The Brigade Commander Brigadier Iftikhar Khan Janjua accompanied the assault battalion. The enemy opened up with every thing he had, guns, machine guns, LMGs, recoilless rifles, and 75mm Howitzers. The Indians however soon found out they were outflanked and outmaneuvered and soon withdrew in great haste, leaving behind a jeep, a number of trailers, ammunition and ration dumps and huge quantities of stores and personal belongings. The number of casualties could not be ascertained and one officer and a number of other ranks were taken prisoners.

It was then decided to attack Biar Bet on 26 April. This time it was felt that as an experiment it would be useful to try out tanks in this terrain.

A squadron of armour led the attack with 2 FF less two companies accompanying them. The enemy brought down a heavy concentration of all types of fire but in this open country every round seemed to have been aimed or pushed into an empty space. The men maintain that there was hidden hand deflecting the rounds which would, otherwise, have taken a heavy toll of advancing troops. The Indians have claimed having hit a number of tanks. Although over 200 rounds of RR were fired, the only thing they hit was a spade tied at the back of the jeep and an ammunition truck was blown up causing the only casualty of this operation. If ever devine hand protected His devoted servants it was on that day. By 0630 hours the position was completely in Pakistani hands. Here again the Indians abandoned their position in great haste, leaving behind one dead, RR mounted on a jeep, large quantities of ammunition and equipment and "Halva Puri", the delicious breakfast which is also relished by the Indian soldiers of an unfortunately starving nation.

Daily Telegraph, London seems to have summed up the situation very ably when it said,


"Biar Bet may mark the coming of age of Pakistan, the shedding of many infant fears. The calm that had been maintained in the country over past few weeks, in the face of near hysterical statements by responsible Indians, has been remarkable."
Rowle Knox, Daily Telegraph, London, May 5, 1965.

I led a party of Pakistani and foreign journalists to the Rann of Kutch area a few days later. After the G.O.C., Major General Tika Khan, had finished briefing the party, one of the foreign journalists got up and asked, "General you say you have killed 300 Indians, the Indians say they have killed 350 Pakistanis. Who would we believe." The General was not perturbed. In his usual cool manner he replied. "I am placing all my helicopters at your disposal. If you see, when you go over the battle area, that the junk of war is in front of me then the Indians are telling the truth, but if the junk of the war is behind me then I alone could be in a position to count the dead." "fair enough" replied the foreign journalist. On his return it was the same journalist who remarked "Gosh - You made them run in the Rann."

8 Infantry Division and its troops to whom the credit goes for making the Indian soldier run in the Rann, as they had never run before, were ordered the next day, "No more offensive". Common friends had realized the danger of these two countries fighting. The outcome had not been as expected. It was, therefore, incumbent to stop the shooting match. Except capturing a convoy of seven brand new Mercedies the division, after that, confined its activities to patrolling of the area immediately in its fornt.

Cease Fire came through the efforts of the British Prime Minister and the Indian Prime Minister Mr. Lal bahadur Shastri consoled his nation announcing, "We will attack at a place of our own choosing." As if Rann of Kutch had been a place of somebody else's choosing. He isno more to tell the world whose advice had resulted in this choice.