Operation Grand Slam
Encyclopedia
Operation Grand Slam is virtually synonymous with the 1965 Indo-Pakistani War
. It refers to an audacious plan drawn up by the Pakistan Army
, in May 1965, to attack the vital Akhnoor Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir
, which was not only the lifeline of an entire infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir
but could also be used to threaten Jammu
, an important logistical point for Indian forces. The operation ended in a failure for Pakistan Army as the stated military objectives were not achieved and subsequently were forced to retreat following a counter attack by the Indian Army.
affair, which was seen as a military victory for Pakistan
(it resulted in territorial gains for her following a boundary award later in 1968), the political atmosphere in Pakistan
was jubilant. Believing the Indians were badly demoralised and the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir would revolt against them with a little help, General
Ayub Khan gave his approval for Operation Gibraltar
, a plan to provoke uprisings in Jammu and Kashmir
by infiltrating teams of military personnel to conduct sabotage and prod the Kashmiri people against Indian forces. The infiltration started in the first week of August 1965, as Pakistani infantry infiltrated the border in teams of twos and threes, eventually swelling to more than 6,000 in number.
Identifying the insurgents as Pakistan Army regulars, India
countered them by bringing in additional troops. The Indian Army
also launched attacks on the logistical bases of the insurgents in Pakistan-held Kashmir.
In order to ease the pressure on the 12th Division which was defending against repeated Indian attacks and to guard against the threat to the important city of Muzaffarabad
, which resulted from the gain by Indian forces of strategic areas, like the Hajipir pass, in Pakistan-held Kashmir, the Pakistani Army commenced Operation Grand Slam at 0500 hours on 1 September 1965.
sector was lightly defended by four Indian infantry battalions and a squadron of tanks. The infantry was stretched thin along the border and the AMX-13
tanks were no match for the Pakistani Patton tank
s. Against a militarily stronger and larger Pakistani thrust, the Indian forces retreated from their defensive positions. According to an eminint Pakistani military historian Major(retd.) A H Amin the Pakistani forces in Operation Grandslam had 6 to 1 advantage over Indian armour which consisted of amx-13 which was like'matchboxs' in front of Pakistani Pattons,in terms of artillery Pakistan's 8 inch guns were phenomanally superior to anything which Indians had at that time and had a overall superiority of 6 to 1.
On the second day of the attack, the GOC of the 12th Infantry Division Major General
Akhtar Hussain Malik, commanding the overall forces in the area, was replaced by Major General
Yahya Khan
, the GOC of the 7th Infantry Division
, which delayed the attack by one day. Not only did this decision show confusion among the Pakistani officer cadre, the delay also permitted the Indians to rush reinforcements to the sector. When the attack recommenced on 3 September, the Indian forces in the sector were sufficiently reinforced to hold out for a few more days, but they did not have the strength to launch a counter attack. As the attack carried on for two more days without any significant gains in territory, the Indian Army
opened up a new front, on 6 September, across the sensitive state of Punjab in Pakistan. The advance of the Indian Army
also threatened to cut across the right flank of the Pakistani attack. Realising the gravity of the threat, the Pakistani Army
stopped its thrust into Kashmir
and diverted forces to counter the Indian incursion.
always dreamed of having against their arch rivals. Pakistan
would have made significant territorial gains in Indian-Administered Kashmir
which might have allowed her to bargain from a position of strength in the peace talks, sponsored by the Soviet Union
at Tashkent
. However, the Pakistani military leadership failed to execute the plans effectively, and the operation produced negative results for Pakistan Army.
The operation was marred by bad decisions made not only by the Pakistani Army GHQ but also by individual commanders. In spite of having the advantage of making preparations to advance along this sector with superior military forces for over 3 months and achieving strategic surprise, the attack was slowly bogged down due to unnecessary change of command on the battlefield by the Pakistani GHQ.
Indo-Pakistani War of 1965
The Indo-Pakistani War of 1965 was a culmination of skirmishes that took place between April 1965 and September 1965 between Pakistan and India. This conflict became known as the Second Kashmir War fought by India and Pakistan over the disputed region of Kashmir, the first having been fought in 1947...
. It refers to an audacious plan drawn up by the Pakistan Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
, in May 1965, to attack the vital Akhnoor Bridge in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
, which was not only the lifeline of an entire infantry division in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
but could also be used to threaten Jammu
Jammu
Jammu , also known as Duggar, is one of the three administrative divisions within Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state in India.Jammu city is the largest city in Jammu and the winter capital of Jammu and Kashmir...
, an important logistical point for Indian forces. The operation ended in a failure for Pakistan Army as the stated military objectives were not achieved and subsequently were forced to retreat following a counter attack by the Indian Army.
Background
Following the Rann of KutchRann of Kutch
The Great Rann of Kutch, also called Greater Rann of Kutch or just Rann of Kutch , is a seasonal salt marsh located in the Thar Desert in the Kutch District of Gujarat, India and the Sindh province of Pakistan....
affair, which was seen as a military victory for Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
(it resulted in territorial gains for her following a boundary award later in 1968), the political atmosphere in Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
was jubilant. Believing the Indians were badly demoralised and the Muslims of Jammu and Kashmir would revolt against them with a little help, General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Ayub Khan gave his approval for Operation Gibraltar
Operation Gibraltar
Operation Gibraltar was the codename given to the strategy of Pakistan to infiltrate Jammu and Kashmir, the northernmost state of India, and start a rebellion against Indian rule...
, a plan to provoke uprisings in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
by infiltrating teams of military personnel to conduct sabotage and prod the Kashmiri people against Indian forces. The infiltration started in the first week of August 1965, as Pakistani infantry infiltrated the border in teams of twos and threes, eventually swelling to more than 6,000 in number.
Identifying the insurgents as Pakistan Army regulars, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
countered them by bringing in additional troops. The Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
also launched attacks on the logistical bases of the insurgents in Pakistan-held Kashmir.
In order to ease the pressure on the 12th Division which was defending against repeated Indian attacks and to guard against the threat to the important city of Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad
Muzaffarabad is the capital of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, Pakistan. It is located in Muzaffarabad District on the banks of the Jhelum and Neelum rivers...
, which resulted from the gain by Indian forces of strategic areas, like the Hajipir pass, in Pakistan-held Kashmir, the Pakistani Army commenced Operation Grand Slam at 0500 hours on 1 September 1965.
Execution
The AkhnoorAkhnoor
Akhnoor is a town in Jammu district in the state of Jammu & Kashmir, India.Located from Jammu, Akhnoor is located in the foothills of the Himalayas. It is an extremely beautiful town...
sector was lightly defended by four Indian infantry battalions and a squadron of tanks. The infantry was stretched thin along the border and the AMX-13
AMX-13
The AMX-13 is a French light tank produced from 1953 to 1985. It served with the French Army and was exported to over twenty-five other nations...
tanks were no match for the Pakistani Patton tank
Patton tank
Patton tank may refer to:*M46 Patton, a tank model operational during the Korean War*M47 Patton, a tank model in service from 1952 through 1959 with the U.S. Army, and through the mid 1990s in foreign service...
s. Against a militarily stronger and larger Pakistani thrust, the Indian forces retreated from their defensive positions. According to an eminint Pakistani military historian Major(retd.) A H Amin the Pakistani forces in Operation Grandslam had 6 to 1 advantage over Indian armour which consisted of amx-13 which was like'matchboxs' in front of Pakistani Pattons,in terms of artillery Pakistan's 8 inch guns were phenomanally superior to anything which Indians had at that time and had a overall superiority of 6 to 1.
On the second day of the attack, the GOC of the 12th Infantry Division Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Akhtar Hussain Malik, commanding the overall forces in the area, was replaced by Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
Yahya Khan
Yahya Khan
General Agha Mohammad Yahya Khan Qizilbash, H.Pk, HJ, S.Pk, psc was the third President of Pakistan from 1969 to 1971, following the resignation of Ayub Khan...
, the GOC of the 7th Infantry Division
7th Infantry Division (Pakistan)
The 7th Infantry Division, also known as the Golden Arrow and Peshawar Division, is the Pakistan Army's oldest and most battle-hardened division...
, which delayed the attack by one day. Not only did this decision show confusion among the Pakistani officer cadre, the delay also permitted the Indians to rush reinforcements to the sector. When the attack recommenced on 3 September, the Indian forces in the sector were sufficiently reinforced to hold out for a few more days, but they did not have the strength to launch a counter attack. As the attack carried on for two more days without any significant gains in territory, the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
opened up a new front, on 6 September, across the sensitive state of Punjab in Pakistan. The advance of the Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
also threatened to cut across the right flank of the Pakistani attack. Realising the gravity of the threat, the Pakistani Army
Pakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
stopped its thrust into Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
and diverted forces to counter the Indian incursion.
Conclusion
Analysts on both sides of the border believe that if the operation were to have proceeded according to plan without any interruption, it would have been the unprecedented success the Pakistani ArmyPakistan Army
The Pakistan Army is the branch of the Pakistani Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. The Pakistan Army came into existence after the Partition of India and the resulting independence of Pakistan in 1947. It is currently headed by General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani. The Pakistan...
always dreamed of having against their arch rivals. Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
would have made significant territorial gains in Indian-Administered Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu and Kashmir is the northernmost state of India. It is situated mostly in the Himalayan mountains. Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with the states of Himachal Pradesh and Punjab to the south and internationally with the People's Republic of China to the north and east and the...
which might have allowed her to bargain from a position of strength in the peace talks, sponsored by the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
at Tashkent
Tashkent
Tashkent is the capital of Uzbekistan and of the Tashkent Province. The officially registered population of the city in 2008 was about 2.2 million. Unofficial sources estimate the actual population may be as much as 4.45 million.-Early Islamic History:...
. However, the Pakistani military leadership failed to execute the plans effectively, and the operation produced negative results for Pakistan Army.
The operation was marred by bad decisions made not only by the Pakistani Army GHQ but also by individual commanders. In spite of having the advantage of making preparations to advance along this sector with superior military forces for over 3 months and achieving strategic surprise, the attack was slowly bogged down due to unnecessary change of command on the battlefield by the Pakistani GHQ.
External links
- Bharat-Rakshak Official Indian Account can be found here.
- Defence Journal A Pakistani Account of 1965.
- Orbat.com
- Air Commodore Syed Sajjad Haider on 1965 war and surrounding events