Division on September 8. An episode east of Narowal along the banks of the Ravi had created ripples in the formation headquarters and it stretched 25 Cavalry to its operational limits. Jassar salient was attacked by Indian troops and the reporting channels of the 1960s technology snowballed this information into a monster, forcing the Pakistani command to send reinforcements to stabilise the situation. 25 Cavalry, being the only mobile force available to the higher command, was asked to rush from Chawinda to Narowal on September 6.
The regiment moved at breakneck pace and was about to reach the objective when the Indian Armour crossed the international border and entered the battlefield of Chawinda. This created a strategic vacuum along the Indian thrust line as there was no major armoured force available to contest the advance from Chawinda to Pasrur. The higher command asked 25 Cavalry to fall back to Chawinda and take on the Indian Armour head-on; our higher command was yet not sure of the quantum and scale of the Indian offensive.
25 Cavalry reached Chawinda at night, the tanks were refuelled and orders issued based on a tactically brilliant but simple plan (common sense). The men and officers had travelled 100 miles for two continuous nights and started placing tanks in their positions. Early morning the regiment had deployed in a bold fashion, all abreast with just few tanks in reserve, not knowing that David was about to collide with Goliath in an epic battle. For two days it was going to be 25 Cavalry vs the Indian 1st Armoured Division with a tank-to-tank ratio of one to six in India’s favour.
If we keep the military technology and operational imperatives of the 1960s in view, 25 Cavalry was pitched against a combat force ten times superior in numbers and firepower. The Indian Armoured Division was not alone, it had the full barrage of the corps artillery at its back, three Infantry Divisions in support and the entire communication and surveillance system of the Indian army at its disposal. The entire chain of Indian command up to the army headquarters in Dehli were working towards cutting Pakistan to size.
September 8 to September 10 saw the finest hour of Men of Steel in the largest tank battle of South Asia. By mid-day on September 9 the ‘Men of Steel’ had established moral and operational ascendency on the pride of the Indian Armored Division; Indian regiments like 16th Cavalry and 17 Poona Horse had been badly mauled with enormous loss of tanks (approximately 55 Indian tanks were destroyed in seven hours). The Indian higher command had been paralysed; Chawinda, Gadgor, Maharajke, even Phillora were littered with charred tanks. The Men of Steel got the trophy of Colonel Tarapore’s tank. Later Indian General Harbakhsh Singh acknowledged the valiant fight by 25 Cavalry and criticised the passive action by the Indian Armour.
The command tank of Colonel Tarapore of 17th Poona Horse, which adores the quarter guard of Men of Steel even today, disclosed the top secret Indian plan, Operation Nepal. Our GHQ came to know that Indian thrust along Chawinda-Pasrur was to be the main effort of the Indian army. Pakistan’s 6th Armored Division was rushed to check and decimate the Indian armoured thrust on the anvil provided by 25 Cavalry. The regiment was awarded five Sitara-e-Jurrat awards, ten Tamgha-e-Jurrat and other gallantry awards. The recipients of the Sitara-e-Jurrat included Lt Colonel Nisar, Major Ahmed, Major Raza, Risladar Riazul Hasan and Naib Risladar Khaliq (Shaheed). The ‘Men of Steel’ became the most decorated unit of Pak Army in one single action.
Naib Risladar Khaliq (Shaheed SJ) could have even earned a Nishan-e-Haider and warrants a detailed study in junior leadership. This enigmatic and brave son of the soil remains a beacon of light for officers and men of the Pakistan Army. The leadership skills of Colonel Nisar and his ability to keep his nerve against heavy odds is reflective of the military leadership of the higher order. Col Nisar singlehandedly took the Indian Armored Division head-on. In terms of operational excellence and mission accomplishment, Colonel Nisar can be credited to have saved Pakistan on September 8.
25 Cavalry went into action again after recuperation and finished the war with flying colours. Due to paucity of space I have not covered the action by Infantry formations and battalions; however 25 Cavalry stands out in the whole lot of Pakistani units and formations.
There is a need to document such action through film and electronic media. Bollywood has been active in projecting a positive image of the Indian army, in movies such as Border. Why has our media failed to build legends like the ‘Men of Steel’ into high-quality movies? Isn’t it time to come up with our version of military history? ‘Men of Steel’ is a living story which can become a classic movie – in Lollywood.
The writer is a defence analyst based at Lahore. Email: waqarkauravigmail.com