BRIG KS CHANDPURI - A TRIBUTE

A TRIBUTE TO BRIGADIER KULDEEP SINGH CHANDPURI, MVC, VSM HERO OF LONGEWALA

An outstanding Soldier by Brig Indrajeet Singh Gakhal

The genes of valour were tempered in the First World War, reinforced during the Second World War and decorated in the third generation at Longewala.  S. Karam Singh, the grandfather, served with XXXVI Sikhs(4 SIKH-Saragarhi Battalion) in Mesopotamia in WW-1, followed by S Wattan Singh , the father who served in the St John's Ambulance Brigade during the Second WW.

Hardships and hard work are companions that build character, S Karam Singh decided to move the family from their rain dependent farming to canal irrigated fertile lands that he had invested in.  In early 1938 the family left Village Chandpur Rorki (7 Kms from Garh Shankar on Noorpur Bedi road)  for Chack 161/9L, Tehsil Hadappa in the Montgomery (now in Pakistan) district. S Karam singh had invested in 6 Morabas of fertile land. Life began afresh for this hard working family of Karam singh and his four brothers, Sant singh, Karam singh, Indar singh & Udham singh . Wattan singh lived in Motgomery town while the rest were at Chack 161.
        It was here that Kuldeep Singh was born on 22 Nov 1940, his two sisters followed.  Things were beginning to look up, however, providence had other plans and Partition happened. A young seven year old saw murder, loot and rape from close quarters, till his mother, sisters and him were evacuated by the Army to Amritsar, where Col Assa Singh a family friend provided shelter. The male members of the family had to trudge back in different groups avoiding murdering marauders.  The family reunited at Chandpur Rorki and set about stitching their lives together.
        The loss of fertile agricultural base was partly compensated when some land of repatriated Muslims was allotted to the family at Village Saroya, Tehsil  Balachaur,  not far from Chandpur Rorki.  As elders set about building life anew, young Kuldeep set about educating himself.  Studies were enjoyable but football even more, but as lives were being built over again one had to help with chores in farming.
       It was a hard grind, school, followed by churning the fodder machine wheel and feeding the cattle. The young shoulders were strengthening under the weight of responsibilities.  This is where young Kuldeep Singh grew up, studying, helping out on the farm and when time permitted playing Football that had caught his fancy.
      After passing District Board High school, from Saroya, football took Kuldeep Singh to SGS Khalsa college, Mahilpur, which was considered a nursery of the game. The next leap based on football was to government college Hoshiarpur.  While still undergoing graduation Kuldeep Singh became an under officer in NCC, participating in the Republic Day Parade of  1962 as part of the NCC contingent. Later the same year the Chinese invasion happened. Kuldeep singh's leaning towards an Army career found opposition from his mother.

MAP OF THE AREA

       About this time Chief Minister of Punjab S Partap Singh Kairon, visited the college in Hoshiarpur, seeking volunteers to fight the Nations enemy's. Nothing could now stop young Kuldeep singh who joined the Officers Training Academy, Madras, passing out from there on 30 June 1963. 2 Lieutenant Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri  joined 3Rd Battalion the Punjab Regiment. A promising military career had been launched. 

   The Indian Army was weighed down by the humiliation of the Chinese aggression, newer equipment was inducted and the entire focus was on training. For a young officer it was an ideal learning opportunity.  Soon, the Indo-Pakistan September 1965 war happened and 3 Punjab was defending the Beas Bridge as the enemy armored thrust threatened to cut off a major chunk of Punjab.  Being a reserve battalion 3 Punjab saw frequent changes in tasks and locations, all adding to the experience of Lt Chandpuri.
        In Oct 1965, the Battalion moved to Poona (now Pune) for its UN Mission assignment UNIEF in Gaza for a year. An international assignment early in ones military career always helps widen ones perspective, so it did for Capt Chandpuri. On completion of the UN assignment 3 Punjab landed in Sunderbani (J&K), from where Capt Chandpuri proceeded on Platoon weapons course, returning with an instructor grading and Best student award.
       On 10 Dec 1967 Capt Kuldeep singh Chandpuri married Ms Surinder Kaur whose father S Baldev Singh was  a Dy Superintendent of Police in the Vigilance Department of Punjab Police. A stint as General staff officer Grade 3(GSO3) in Sikkim followed in 1968. A GSO3 being an operational appointment Capt Chandpuri learnt operational details from his association with Maj Gen Inder Gill, the General officer Commanding who had an exceptional war record.
      In May 1971, Capt Chandpuri was posted to 23 Punjab, then located at Bikaner with an operational role in Jaisalmer sector of the Thar Desert.  23 Punjab was then commanded by Lt Col Md Khurshid Hussain also of 3 Punjab, but not particularly fond of Chandpuri.  Maj Chandpuri after his promotion was assigned the command of Alfa (Sikh) company, (Punjab Battalions have a mix of two Sikh & two Dogra Companies).
       Soon Major Chandpuri , was detailed for a month long familiarization with the operational area, which was to pay great dividends in the war that was to follow. Maj Chandpuri diligently studied the terrain in detail going over from one sand dune to the other. After a sweat soaked month under the unbearable sun, Maj Chandpuri was sure of his bearings, little realizing that time and events were beckoning him  to claim his glory. The Indo-Pak war of Dec 1971 was about to unfold.    

        Anticipating the war, 23 Punjab had occupied its battle positions, Major Chandpuri's Alfa Company was defending the Logewala sweet water position, while the remaining Battalion was occupying a Battalion defended area at Sadewala. The remaining brigade was to Tanot.  The Longewala position was reasonably well fortified with anti-Tank mines laid by the Pioneer section largely towards the South West . The only wire fence that circumvented the position was basically laid to keep out the wild camels that came sniffing for water. This wire was to later prove the undoing of the attackers.
     A section each of 81 MM Mortars, 7.62 MMG and 106 mm RCLs were in location. Having patrolled the areas around and fortified the trenches the Sikhs were confident of themselves. Intelligence inputs pointed to a Pakistani attack, sure enough on 03 Dec 1971 air strikes on all Indian airfields announced the start of the war on the western front.  Lt Dharamvir, the Company Officer with Maj Chandpuri,   who was keeping tabs of the enemy  reported large columns of tanks and Infantry moving towards Longewala.
       Maj Chandpuri collected his men spoke to them about their rich martial traditions and the Gurus blessings, urging them to  hold fast at all costs. "Loon day mull chakon da wayla agaya" (time to repay the Nation is upon us) he said.   A series of Jaikars "Jo bole so nihal, Sat Sari Akal" reverberated amongst the vast expanse of the dunes. Maj Chandpuri realized that his motivational tirade had hit home.  The battle that unfolded is well documented and gave Sunny Deol's flagging career a great thrust. (Today when people use Sunny Deol's name to recall Maj Chandpuri, it hurts us soldiers).
          The crux was holding fast despite the overwhelming enemy tank's, artillery bombardment and infantry attacks. It needed grit and faith, both amply displayed by Maj Chandpuri.  The morning after saw the Indian Air Force decimate the Pakistani tanks. It was the grit of Maj Chandpuri, his motivational skills his faith in God and his men that the battle ended the way it did. The strand of wire that had kept the camels away also kept the Pakistani's at bay! The Maha Vir Chakra awarded to Maj KS Chandpuri was an apt recognition of his valour & professionalism.

          As Col Chandpuri progressed in life, successfully commanding his Battalion,  as Brigadier commanded 100 Brigade and  the Punjab Regimental Centre, besides other staff appointments. In his entire military career his earthy and simple ways came to the fore. A son of the soil he remained a teetotaler and vegetarian all his life, simple of habit and strong of character was Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri , MVC.
        His dedicated services were recognized by the Nation by way of the award of Vashisht Seva Medal. By now he had established his credentials in the Track and Field and was a listed IOA judge, frequently called upon to lend his services at international meets. His ability for hard work and constantly learn were not diminished by age.
        Post retirement Brig Chandpuri , MVC, VSM worked with Godrej & Boyce as their Security advisor for many years. He was on the board of directors of the PESCO and a nominated member in the UT council. In all the appointments his sincerity, simplicity and earthiness endeared him to all whose lives he touched. 

      On 17 Nov 2018, just five days short of his 78Th Birthday Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, MVC, VSM breathed his last. His passing is a loss to the entire soldier's brotherhood and those whose lives he touched however fleetingly.
        Soldiers may fade away, but their valour lives forever.  Brig Kuldeep Singh Chandpuri, MVC, VSM  Amar Rahain and may the noble soul rest in the heaven above till eternity !!

TIMES OF INDIA REPORTS-   1971   India-Pakistan war hero Brig Chandpuri dead. 

 https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/1971-india-pakistan-war-hero-brig-chandpuri-dead/articlesho/66664353.cms?utm_campaign=andapp&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=native_share_tray



Published on blog site -- With tribute from --

Brig Narinder Dhand,
Founder & Convener
Veteran's  Web Portals.
http://signals-parivaar.blogspot.in


I am deeply grieved to learn the sad news, that the Great Son Of India in no more among us. During my tenure as GSO2(OPS) of Jodhpur Desert Division in 1980-82 (Olden days, when Div HQ rather the entire Div had only one Full Colonel as the ADMS and we wore Khaki Uniforms, probably to fool Pakistani Observers), I had very intimate contact with Brig KS Chandpuri, we used to invite  him to Jodhpur very often during the visits of VVIPs which included the then PM  Mrs Indira Gandhi to Pokharan blast site and Longewala. My job took me  to Longewala in-numerable times with Brig Chandpuri, to commence the briefing after GOC's initial introduction, giving broader picture of 1971 ops in the theater   a. The entire briefing incl each and every Dhora opposite Longewala, We did this many times and I could then simply  rattle out extempore. Thanks to this Great Hero, the Brave Son Of Soil,  who took me to every spot from where his RCL took on paki tanks during the night and how the low wire fence laid to ward off the wild animals proved to be a boon for them which posed a picture of large mine field for the advancing columns of Pakistan Army.
      His emotional oration of the night ordeal when PAK tanks in large numbers  just appeared opposite him tingles fresh in my ears. What a man in uniform he has been in true tradition of his Fauji family genes. We were in touch for a long period and had developed  closeness.
  God bless his soul,  A brave leader and commander, My salute to you Sir,

Brig NK Dhand.

     

  

NOTE :-  By anonymous

 1971 was a debacle for Southern Command operations, The tank assault to Longewala- Ramgarh and Jaisalmer by PAK checkmated the pending Divisional assault  planned towards R.Y.Khan from Kishangarh
    The Armoured assault  by PAK, one can say, by sheer divine intervention  halted since some of their tanks got bellied in soft sand while skirting and out flanking  Longewala position through the narrow inter-dunal spaces.
    The only RCL with  the Longewala company was ordered to be withdrawn the previous day but could not leave for Tanote for some reasons, as such saved the situation at Longewala during the night from being run over and churned by Pakistsni Tanks in  direct assault to get on to the road at Longewala on way to Ramgarh..
    Some - odd  through-some one relayed radio communication worked and Hunters from Jaisalmer took on the tanks in early hours of the morning. They had good range and target practice since Paki Air wasn't there to support the armoured columns.
   Pak logistics to support the attacking columns which were mostly B-Vehicle based could not fetch up in time due to sandy track from border to Longewala.
    Had Paki succeeded in out-skirting Longewala they would have had a free run to Jaisalmer. Fortunately for us they had miscalculated the softness of sand dunes in the LW area which is so even today.  In Chandpuris words Utte Rabb Haiga (There is God up there).
     Pakistan Army outsmarted Southern Command in all it's measures, in making their plans ans preparations for offensive against Rahim Yar Khan, To sum up God saved the Situation for India,
    There were only two MVCs (No PVCs) awarded in Southern Command,  Maharaja Col Bhawani Singh who died in 2015 for Para Cdo Ops towards Munnabao and Chandpuri for sticking to the loc against severe odds and being out numbered.

: END OF AN ERA.. with Brig Chandpuri's demise.

REST IN PEACE THE BRAVEST OF BRAVES SON OF INDIA.



War diaries are written much after the war ends describing situations  that suit , hiding incompetence and failures ...

BRIG. E. N. RAMADOSS (RETD.) AVSM, SM

BRIGADE COMMANDER AT THE BATTLE OF LAUNGEWALA

  Wrote sometimes after the operations, as his son describes :- 

FORT KISHANGARH

     "I was the Commander 30th Infantry Brigade and was put in charge of operations at Laungewala at 0400 hours on 5th Dec 1971 by Maj. Gen. K. C. Khambhatta, General Officer Commanding 12th Infantry Division. He briefed me on the telephone that enemy armour movements were heard by a patrol of 23rd batallion of the Punjab Regiment (part of 45th Infantry Brigade) located at about half-way on the track LAUNGEWALA-BORDER PILLAR 635. He estimated the strength to be couple of squadrons (30 tanks) of enemy armour on track GHOTARU-BORDER PILLAR 638. He allotted all the four tanks of the Replacement Tanks Troop which was located south of SADEWALA, as all our armour of 60 tanks were at KISHANGARH, 80 kilometres to the North-East. My Brigade was to lead the advance towards RAHIM YAR KHAN at first light on 5th Dec 1971. I happened to be at 2 kilometres West of SADEWALA (my Brigade Forward Concentration Area) alongwith my batallions 17th batallion the Rajputana Rifles (17 RAJ RIF - SAWAI MAN) commanded by Lt. Col. A. S. Grewal and the 6th batallion the 5th Gurkha Regiment(6/5 GR FF) commanded by Lt. Col. Anand Swarup, waiting for transport. My leading group of 13th batallion of the Kumaon Regiment (REZANGLA 1962 - MAJ. SHAITAN SINGH, PVC) commanded by Lt. Col. R. V. Jatar, 20th LANCERS (AMX), 6th Independent Armoured Squadron (14 T-55 tanks) under MAJ. R. D. LAW were already in KISHANGARH.

A Company under MAJ. K.S. CHANDPURI of 23rd Punjab (commanded by Lt. Col. M. K. HUSSEIN) of 45th Infantry Brigade (commanded by Brig. KHARBANDA) was holding LAUNGEWALA post. A platoon (under the present Commanding Officer who was then a Captain) had been sent out on patrol towards the border. He had reported the enemy armour movements. Pakistani medium guns (130 mm) shelled LAUNGEWALA Cross Roads – Water Point Area at 0230 hours, sound of which woke me up at my Headquarters, ten kilometres away from LAUNGEWALA near SADEWALA.

I requested General Khambhata to allot me all the available air support at first light, due to the disparate relative strengths of four Indian AMX tanks against estimated 30 tanks of Pakistan (which turned out later to be 48 T-59 and 12 Sherman Mk V American tanks). The troops were ordered back from the road where they were waiting for transport from the previous night to reopen their defences. One company of 17 RAJRIF was to proceed with the troop of tanks to reinforce LAUNGEWALA and the remainder of 17 RAJRIF was to build up on LAUNGEWALA later as per the situation. One company of 6/5 GR was to provide a screen two kms ahead of our own defences at SADEWALA.

When the leading tanks of the Pakistani force reached about a km South-West of LAUNGEWALA Post on the road to GHOTARU at about 0515 hours, Maj. Chandpuri informed my Brigade Major, Maj. Bhandari (now Col. (Retd.)) and ordered his recoilless guns to open fire. No tank was hit. In return, the Pakistani troop knocked every structure at the post to rubble (Temple escaped) and set fire to a large stack of fodder for camels. This silenced 'A' company completely. The left platoon fell back from their positions, leaving Maj. Chandpuri with just his company HQ personnel and one platoon on the post. Surprisingly the Pakistani armour did not press the attack.

Actually there was no physical assault on the Post by enemy tanks or infantry. This was confirmed later by a Pakistani Bangladeshi Officer who was with the leading Pakistani infantry battalion and escaped to our side after the cease fire. There was no dead body or crippled tank within 400 meters of the Post.

Our fighter planes, Hunters, flew over at telescopic first light at 0730 hours and reported there were no tanks visible. I realised the pilots were new to the desert, asked them to hang on over the target area and requested our Division HQ to send up Maj. Atma Singh, our Air OP Flight Commander, to direct the fighters on to enemy tanks. Then the Air Force had a merry day; with Maj. Atma Singh and Capt. Sangha directing the planes alternately, knocked out 23 tanks (19 T-59 and 4 Shermans) during 5th and 6th Dec 1971. It was confirmed later that there had been no recoilless gun hit on any of those enemy tanks. Our fighters dared to come singly even, once they realised there was no enemy air cover to their armoured thrust in the open desert. Two Pakistani Starfighters straffed my Brigade Column towards Border Pillar 635 on the afternoon of 8th Dec 1971, the only air attack during the whole operation. Their absence for three days is quite inexplicable. Had they been there on 5th Dec 1971, our Hunters would have been seen off.

Lt. Col. A. S. Grewal of 17 RAJ RIF and I had been on the road LAUNGEWALA-SADEWALA two kms short of the Laungewala helipad from 0900 hours onwards behind 'A' Company 17 RAJ RIF who did the link up. At 0915 hours our leading AMX tank was hit by one enemy T-59 which had come upto the helipad. Our tank blew up along with the its crew of three but had also hit the enemy tank which was abandoned bt the crew, leaving the gunner dead inside. At 1300 hours Maj. Atma Singh force landed on the helipad near the abandoned T-59, picked up the maps from inside the tank, reported to my HQ at 1500 hours and said that the enemy tank seemed to be a running one. My Staff Officer, Capt. Ramesh Khatri drove it back to my HQ at 1700 hours. This was the only running Pakistani tank captured in the whole operation. The shell from our AMX tank had hit the side of the main armament, ricocheted into the hull and killed the gunner whom we buried in our HQ at SADEWALA.

TANOTE MATA MANDIR AS OF TODAY

The 6th Independent Armoured Squadron (14 brand new T-55 tanks) under Maj. R. D. Law, VrC rushed back on tracks from KISHANGARH and arrived at LAUNGEWALA helipad area at 1300 hours restoring our morale.

Lt. Gen. Eric Vazused to start his lecture on 1971 operations that "Two factors favoured our actions during the war GOD and LUCK". We had plenty of both at LAUNGEWALA on 5thDec 1971.

The above is my father's report on the Longewala battle. He was Brig Cdr. 30 Brigade. Incidentally I met Maj Chandpuri at Longewala on 24th Dec 71 when on leave from NDA.

 War diaries are written much after the war ends describing situations  that suit , hiding incompetence and failures ...








 OTHER OPERATIONS IN THE SECTOR

RAID ON CHACHRO BY 10 PARA COMMANDOS

Well done job by 10 Pars Commandos.

THE CHACHRO RAID OF 1971

BY DEFENCE NEWS INDIA STAFF ON JUNE 9, 2017

On 7 Dec 1971; Team of 10 Para (SF) carried out daring raid on Chachro Town, 80 Km deep inside Pakistan.It was an important communication centre inside enemy territory.In resounding success large number of enemy soldiers, material, weapons and ammunition was destroyed.

Elite Commando troops of the Parachute regiment raided on Chachro on the night of December 5th. The Unit was based at Sarupkatala, south west of Barmer town. By the day light, the commandos neutralized all threats and cleared the enemy from Chachro. It was discovered that a major chunk of the Pakistani force had escaped earlier. However 17 prisoners and a huge number of small arms were captured. After that one group proceeded to raid the town of Virawah.

By evening Virawah was taken over. Actually this was the biggest territorial conquest in terms of territory. The whole area of about 3600sq. kilometers remained under the control of Indian Army till 22nd December 1972.

Operation Details:

At 0700 hours, December 5, 1971, men of the Desert Scorpions (10 Para Commandos) come under intense medium machine gun (MMG) fire from gun positions on top of sand dunes at Kita about 70 km into enemy territory. The Jeep/Jonga-borne commandos take defence positions in the shadow of the night. As they look for options, one Jeep rushes towards the enemy without a care for personal safety, firing at the enemy position. Naik Nihal Singh has opened up his light machine gun (LMG) mounted on his Jeep. The darkness acts as cover, the enemy only has the machine gun burst to aim at. This audacious charge gives the other teams time to start firing — 18 LMGs open up and in a few hours, the enemy positions are overrun, the survivors abandon the posts and escape.

This was the start to one of the most audacious commando missions in the world undertaken by the Indian Army's Para Commandos. Inspired by the British SAS raid behind enemy lines at a German airfield in Fuka, Lybia during the Second World War, this successful operation established the Indian Army's dominance in the desert during the 1971 war.

This operation was led by Lt Col Bhawani Singh. For four days, the battalion infiltrated deep inside enemy territory and carried out raids on enemy positions at Chachro and Virwah. Lt Col Bhawani Singh was awarded the Mahavir Chakra for his leadership and courage.

Objectives of the Commando Team

Two teams — Alpha and Charlie — were trained for five months in desert warfare. A young commando battalion was entrusted with the crucial mission just five years after its formation in 1967. The objectives were to strike enemy positions 80 km inside their territory, hit their supply lines and create confusion. To complete their mission, the teams travelled over 500 km inside enemy territory, hitting various enemy positions despite having little knowledge of the terrain and the challenges that lay ahead.

"Ginger up the enemy" was the theme used by Lt Col Bhawani Singh. who rose to be a brigadier and one of the most decorated officers in the Indian Army. He was the first to be called after retirement to boost the morale of his unit in Sri Lanka.

Target 1: Battle of Chachro

The team moved slowly through inhospitable terrain only by night. Brigadier Abraham Chacko was a Second Lieutenant then assigned to the Alpha team, the strike team that hit the Wing headquarters of the Pakistani Rangers in Chachro. Their mission — to create chaos and take vital ascents 80 km into enemy territory.

"The route was so bad that all silencers of our Jeeps/Jongas made us sound like a full-tank battalion moving into Pakistan," remembers Brigadier Chacko. The racket not a positive for commando raid, which relies on stealth and silence. This, however, came out as an advantage for this group as the enemy abandoned positions at several locations thinking that this was indeed a tank column moving.

After the Kita firefight, a small patrol was tasked with route clearance till the wing headquarters at Chachro. This team moved in the night and gave a clearance to attack at 0400 hours on December 7. Alpha team took positions around town blocking every exit point, ready to provide cover fire. Charlie team moved in for the offensive at dawn. The operation was a risky one as the town had many civilians. The fear of collateral damage kept the teams on their toes. They could not risk hostile civilians so deep into enemy territory.. The teams moved in swiftly and by first light the town had been taken.

The commandos moved on, their mission was only half complete. The town was handed over to 20 Rajput which counted 17 Pakistani casualties and took 12 prisoners. Such was the planning that the raiding team suffered no casualties. After the Chachro operation, Charlie team exfiltrated while the Alpha team moved towards its second target.

Target 2 & 3: Virawah and Nagarparkar

For the first raid on Chachro, the team moved only at night to stay undetected, but during the Virawah raid, they moved by day because of paucity of time. This was done at high risk. The team started its assault on Virawah at 0200 hours on December 8. The first contact with the enemy was at an observation post at 0130 hours. "I signalled the Jongas to stop when we noticed movement in the bushes about 25 yards away. A small patrol led by me was formed. Closer to the observation post, I lobbed the grenade and charged. We got into hand to hand combat with the enemy," remembers Col MPS Choudhary, who led one group of commandos in the attack. As they approached the Rangers camp, the latter fired in panic but in the opposite direction. The commandos opened up the camp with motor fire followed by 12 light machine guns. The assault did not last long. The Rangers fled their positions. Virawah was taken.

The commandos then moved into Nagarparkar and the tehsil headquarter was taken over without much difficulty by the first light of December 8. The teams were back to their bases after this operation..

Target 4: Islamkot

Alpha group did not get much time to rest. They were reassigned immediately to another mission. This was an attack on a suspected ammunition dump in Islamkot. The group entered Pakistan again and reached Sundegaon by 1900 hours on December 16. The village was empty. In the shadow of the night, they moved towards Islamkot and waited just 2 km east of the enemy camp. At 0530 hours, they launched their assault but found the camp empty..

The Ambush at Lunio

On their way back from the mission is when they faced the enemy again. "On our way back after handing over Islamkot, leading Jeep with Captain Das saw dust raised by moving vehicles. We immediately fanned out and went into ambush. Other teams joined in and we opened fire. I think 18-20 enemy soldiers were killed on the spot and rest were taken prisoners of war," remembers Col MPS Chaudhary.

This raid was the biggest territorial conquest in terms of territory . The whole captured area of about 3600 sq. kilometers remained under Indian Army's control till 22nd December 1972

VIDEO _ LONGEWALA AIR

                                                        **********************


FROM PAK SIDE - A BRIEF ON ATTACK ON LONGEWALA. 

BATTLE OF LONGEWALA

(As Stated by Brig Z A Khan (Ex CO of 38 CAV – Pak Army) in an Interview in Jan 2002)

Please tell us in detail about the Longewala Operation of 1971?

While I was busy raising 38 Cavalry in Hyderabad I was called to Khairpur on October 16, where the 18 Division Headquarters were located. There the GOC Major General B. M. Mustafa explained his concept of forthcoming operations to Lieutenant Colonel Akram Hussain Syed and me, with his Colonel Staff Colonel Wajid Ali Shah present.

The general planned to defensively hold the front south of Rahimyar Khan and outflanking the Indian left flank seize Ramgarh and Jaisalmir; 38 Cavalry was to seize Ramgarh and 22 Cavalry was to neutralise the airfield at Jaisalmir; the GOC asked for our comments about the practicability of the plan from the armour point of view.

Lieutenant Colonel Akram Syed and I said that the plan would succeed if we made an approach march to the border on one night and undertook the cross border operations the next night and air cover was made available on the first day from dawn to dusk till Ramgarh and Jaisalmir had been secured. The general said he would make arrangements for the air cover, he cautioned that the plan was ‘top secret’ and was not to be discussed with anyone.

In the first week of November, 38 Cavalry, less ‘A’ Squadron detached to 55 Brigade at Chor, concentrated at Manthar, about 25 miles on the road Sadiqabad-Rahimyar Khan. A few days after the regiment concentrated, the COAS and Air Marshal Rahim, the PAF chief came to Rahimyar Khan where the 18 Division plan was discussed and the PAF chief assured the required air support.

A few days after the Rahimyar Khan meeting, the GOC inter-changed the roles of 22 Cavalry and 38 Cavalry because he anticipated a tank battle in the Ramgarh area for which 22 Cavalry was better suited. I considered the operation, Jaisalmir was 120 miles from the rail head at Reti, I expected an engine breakdown every 15 miles and requested that 12 spare engines be provided with an EME team and a breakdown with a crane to change engines, the GOC agreed to make the necessary arrangements.

The officers of 38 Cavalry carried out reconnaissance for counter penetration covering the approaches to Rahimyar Khan and Lieutenant Colonel Akram Syed and I took our officers along the route that we were to take to the border, Reti-Khenju-Gabbar-Masitwari Bhit-border without telling them that that was the route that we were to follow in the forthcoming  operations.

About the middle of November the news indicated that the attack on East Pakistan had begun and Indian aircraft started flying reconnaissance missions over Rahimyar Khan and Sadiqabad.

With war imminent I decided to let my officers and the Risaldar Major know that the mission of 38 Cavalry with an infantry battalion and mortar battery was to capture Jaisalmir and neutralise the airfield. I explained how the mission was to be conducted and that each tank was to carry 200 gallons of petrol in drums. At the division headquarters there was no preparations for the very imminent operations, on 1 December Colonel Saeed Qadir came to investigate the seizing of tank engines and ordered the removal of tank engines and cleaning of oil sumps and filters.

On 2nd December I received orders to report to the division headquarters and there the GOC told me that operations would begin that evening that 38 Cavalry, 1 Punjab and a mortar battery would follow 51 Brigade upto Loganewala and proceed to Jaisalmir to neutralise the airfield. The GOC told me that I was not to attend the division orders but to organise my force.

I telephoned my regiment to stop the work of taking down tank engines and prepare for moving out, I next went to the AA&QMG and told him that I required 16,800 gallons of octane 80 petrol, the AA&QMG told me that he knew nothing about the requirement and had no petrol available, after a discussion with the colonel staff the AA&QMG told me that the required petrol would be made available at Masitwari Bhit, 5 miles short of the border. It was obvious that the logistics of the operation had not been planned.

When the 18 Division ‘O’ group assembled, the PAF liaison officer, a wing commander informed the ‘O’ Group that the PAF would not be able to support the operation because the Jacobabad airfield had not been activated. This announcement led the brigade commanders to ask the GOC to  cancel or postpone the operation, the GOC then telephoned the CGS and discussed the lack of air, after the discussion he  informed the ‘O’ Group that his orders were to conduct the operation without air support in the ‘national interest’. The brigade commanders then suggested that the GOC refuse to conduct the operation because it was very likely to fail. The GOC told the ‘O’ Group that he would conduct the operation because if did not he would be labelled as a general who had lost his nerve.

The plan made by Major General B. M. Mustafa required an approach march of about sixty mile to the border, then a forty miles advance to Ramgarh by 51 Brigade of two battalions (the third battalion was a East Bengal battalion and had to be left out of the operations) and 22 Cavalry, by passing Loganewala, to position itself to counter any reaction from the Indian 12 Division which was expected to be deployed facing Rahimyar Khan. I was to command the 38 Cavalry task force consisting 38 Cavalry less squadron, 1 Punjab ex-206 Brigade and a mortar battery,  and was to follow 51 Brigade till the metal road to Jaisalmir, 20 miles inside India was reached and then continue to Jaisalmir. 206 Brigade leaving one battalion on the Rahimyar Khan front (this front was held by Hur battalions) was to follow my force and secure Loganewala to form a firm base.

After these orders were issued the 206 Brigade commander objected to 38 Cavalry being sent to Jaisalmir with mechanically unsound tanks, the GOC changed the plan and ordered 28 Baluch the divisional Reconnaissance and Support Battalion less company and a mortar battery to neutralise the airfield and placed 38 Cavalry under command 51 Brigade. I was informed about the change in the plan on the afternoon of 2 December.

The orders received from GHQ differed from the plan that had been suggested, instead of making the approach march of 60 miles to border in one night and going across the border the next night, the GHQ order stated that the approach march was to start at 1530 hours on 3 December and the border had to be crossed at  2130 hours and the advance was to continue to Ramgarh and Jaisalmir, a total march of 120 miles in one night.

On the evening of 2 December I went to  the 51 Brigade Headquarters, Lieutenant Colonel Akram Syed was already there, he told me that the brigade commander was shaken and had lost his nerve, a little later the brigade commander came to the tent where the ‘O’ Group had assembled, he appeared shaken. The GSO 3 laid out the maps of the operational area, the maps covered our territory, Indian territory was blank squares, the brigade had not collected the maps of the operational area from the division headquarters. I placed my maps, which showed the terrain features on both sides of the border, on the table.

From the ensuing discussion it became apparent that the brigade commander’s mind had stopped working. Nothing was known about the Indian deployment, even the number of the Indian division was incorrectly said to be 11 whereas it was 12. As the brigade commander hesitated I told him that my guess was that an infantry battalion and a tank squadron would be protecting the Indian flank at Loganewala, that 51 Brigade with 22 Cavalry with an infantry battalion on tanks to move on the track Masitwari Bhit-Loganewal and by passing Loganewala continue to Ramgarh. 38 Cavalry with an infantry battalion to follow and secure Loganewala or wait the arrival of 206 Brigade; no one objected and the brigade commander accepted the plan.

When the ‘O’ Group dispersed the artillery regiment commander asked me for my map saying that his maps were also without terrain features across the border.

On 3 December at 38 Cavalry tanks were to move on tracks for 25 miles and entrain at Sadiqabad and arrived at Reti  railway station about, 30 miles from Sadiqabad at 1800 hours.  I went to Reti railway station at about 1730 hours and asked the station master at what time the tank train was to arrive, he surprised me by saying that he had no intimation of any tank train, I realised that the AA&QMG had not informed the railway about the movement. I then spoke to the railway movement controller at Sukkur and after a lot of shouting and threatening the controller agreed to move the train to Reti. At the Reti railway station a goods train was standing at the tank unloading line, there was no ‘power’ available at Reti, we were arguing about this when the station master started going through the procedure of allowing a train to pass through, I made him stop the train and use its locomotive to move the goods train. At about nine o’clock the tank train with 14 tanks whose engines had been hurriedly refitted without cleaning the filters arrived and were unloaded.

We were running well behind the divisional planned schedule, from Reti the tanks drove to Khenju along a canal bank, at Khenju my second in command Major Zia Uddin Javed was waiting  with petrol and the tanks were refuelled. From Khenju the desert track started and the tanks in low gear ground their way to Gabbar 19 miles from the border, thirteen out of fourteen tanks arriving at 0100 hours on 4 December. At Gabbar I was surprised to find 22 Cavalry and the GOC who told me that 22 and 38 Cavalry were the only troops which had arrived. At 0400 hours the GOC called off the operation for that day and both regiments dispersed. On the 4 December the Indian Air Force did not show up.

On checking up I found that the lorries carrying the petrol promised by the AA&QMG  were stuck in the sand near Dharki, I sent a message to Risaldar Major Mazhar Ali Khan and he commandeered the EME battalion 6x6 vehicles and we refuelled. I looked for the tank that had broken down, it was a few miles from Khenju, the Tatra crane was bellied near Khenju that put an end to my engine replacement plan.

During the day, on the advice of the brigade commanders the attack on the Jaisalmir airfield was abandoned and 1 Punjab reverted to 206 Brigade. Just before last light a battery of 130 mm guns passed through Gabbar and 38 Baluch joined 22 Cavalry  mounted their tanks moved off towards the border.

At about 2100 hours six tanks and the reconnaissance troop of 38 Cavalry reached Masitwari Bhit, 22 Cavalry was refuelling; Lieutenant Colonel Akram Syed told me that Brigadier Tariq Mir was behaving very badly and had stated that he had no intention of going beyond Loganewala, I met Brigadier Tariq Mir and he told me that he intended not to go beyond Loganewal. At about 2300 hours 51 Brigade moved off leaving the elements of 38 Cavalry, a platoon of a Punjab battalion of 206 Brigade, one lost FOO at Masitwari Bhit and Brigadier Jahanzeb Arbab joined us.

The operation so far was a movement of fiasco, civilian requisitioned  4x2 trucks could not negotiate the loose sand, 20 FF, a battalion of 206 Brigade, marched across the desert ‘to the sound of the guns’ when their vehicles failed to negotiate the desert.

At about 0200 hours on 5 December, Brigadier Jahanzeb Arbab and I decided that no one else was likely to join us and we decided to follow 51 Brigade. I ordered 2nd Lieutenant Javed Iqbal with the reconnaissance troop to lead followed by the RHQ 38 Cavalry and six tanks under Major Javed Hussain.  About two miles after crossing the border I found 2nd Lieutenant Javed Iqbal coming back, when I asked him where he was going he told me that all the vehicles of the reconnaissance troop had disappeared, I realised that the NCOs had hidden their vehicles (I court martialled them after the ceasefire). Major Javed Hussain now took the lead and went 18 miles and four tanks broke down leaving two runners and we had to halt, two miles short of Loganewala, luckily on the highest ridge in the area.

At about 0730 hours, explosions were heard from the direction of Loganewala and columns of smoke started rising, I and my adjutant drove towards the smoke columns in my rover and from a ridge overlooking the Loganwala-Jaisalmir metal road we saw five tanks of 22 Cavalry and Indian tank burning, four Hawker Hunters of the IAF were circling and after firing all their rockets etc they flew away. A little later a helicopter took off, later I learnt that the GOC had come to  51 Brigade as it  was out of communications with the division headquarters and ordered Lieutenant Colonel Akram Syed to capture Loganewala.

I and my adjutant drove to the 51 Brigade headquarters, I asked the brigade commander what the situation was and he said he did not know, I then  drove to the base of the hill on which Loganwala was located, two companies of 38 Baluch and a squadron of 22 Cavalry were formed up to attack.

22 Cavalry reached the rear of the Indian Loganewala defences at about 0200 hours, in the absence of the brigade commander 22 Cavalry and 38 Baluch decided to attack and clear Loganewala before advancing to Ramgarh. At 0700 hours a squadron and two companies of infantry attacked and were engaged by anti-tank guns, machine guns and AMX tanks, one AMX was knocked out then 6 Hawker Hunters appeared, knocked out 5 tanks of 22 Cavalry and the Baluchis went to the ground due to straffing. Half an hour later 22 Cavalry formed up again to attack and the IAF knocked out six tanks, at about 0900 hours 22 Cavalry formed up again but after a vehement and abusive argument the brigade commander overruled the attack. 22 Cavalry had cut off the roads Loganewal-Ramgarh, Loganewala-Tanot and the road to Jaisalmir. The brigade commander ordered the concentration of the regiment around the brigade headquarters re-opening the Indian communications to Loganewala. In subsequent air attacks 22 Cavalry lost six more tanks bringing the day’s losses to 17 tanks, 10 killed and 17 wounded.

Four Hawker Hunters of the Indian Air Force circled Loganewala  from 0700 hours to sunset and prevented any ground movement. 22 Cavalry fired all their 12.7 mm anti-aircraft ammunition and also tried their 100 mm in the anti-aircraft role but could not hit any aircraft that were releasing rockets and firing their guns from about five thousand metres.

After witnessing the pull back by 22 Cavalry I returned to where my tanks were, there I found Brigadier Jahanzeb Arbab, I told him of the affairs at Loganelwala and he asked me to accompany him to Loganewala. We found 51 Brigade deployed astride the Loganewala-Jaisalmir  road out of contact with the Indian troops. The 51 Brigade commander told us that an Indian brigade had linked up with Loganewala.

While we were at the 51 Brigade headquarters a helicopter, flown by Captain ‘Mac’ Maqbool of 12 Cavalry, later lieutenant general, landed with orders from the GOC ordering 51 Brigade to capture Loganewal and Ghotaru, a place about ten miles on the road to Jaisalmir; on receiving  the orders Brig Tariq  Mir announced that he would not comply with the orders as the Indians were too strong for brigade to attack.  

While we were witnessing the brigade commander’s refusal to obey the division commander’s orders, Indian aircraft again attacked and we all went into trenches, Brigadier Jahanzeb and I went to the same trench, there we discussed what we had seen and I told Brigadier Jahanzeb that it would be a shame to withdraw after coming 20 miles and convinced him to assume command as the senior brigadier; he hesitated and said I was creating trouble, but he agreed to assume control.

After the Indian aircraft departed Brigadier Jahanzeb informed Brigadier Tariq Mir that 206 Brigade would attack Loganwala and he ordered Lieutenant Colonel Shah, the CO 28 Baluch, the Reconnaissance and Support Battalion, to advance along the road Loganewala-Jaisalmir and capture Ghotaru. The CO 28 Baluch disappeared and explained after the ceasefire that he understood that he was to make a wide outflanking movement to Ghotaru by withdrawing to the Sadiqabad-Sukkur road.

Brigadier Jahanzeb returned to the point where my tanks had stopped, his brigade had concentrated there; he made an attack plan setting the H-hour at 0300 hrs 6 December, he gave out his orders and told me to go and explain the plan to Brigadier Tariq Mir and ask him to mark the “FUP” and provide a squadron of 22 Cavalry to support the attack. I reached the 51 Brigade area at about 1800 hours, I met Lieutenant Colonel Akram Syed and explained the plan, he told me that Brigadier Tariq Mir had decided to withdraw across the border. I then went to 51 Brigade headquarter and gave the requirements of 206 Brigade to the brigade commander who said that he was withdrawing across the border and remained adamant about it; at about 1900 hours the brigade started moving back.

The withdrawing 51 Brigade and advancing 206 Brigade crossed each other on Kharo Tar a high ridge line slightly ahead of where my tanks had stopped, Brigadier Jahanzeb decided to take up a defensive position on the ridge, at about 1130 hours the next day the Indians made contact with tanks and infantry. The GOC came and ordered 206 Brigade to regain the Loganewala-Jaisalmir road and 51 Brigade to prepare a depth position.

Later  the GOC ordered a general withdrawal across the border and all ranks to fire small arms at the enemy aircraft. When I heard about this order, I drove to the division headquarters at Gabbar and met the GOC who confirmed his order, I told him that if there was a general withdrawal troops would not stop east of the Indus and if the order to fire small arms at the aircraft was not cancelled the troops would fire all their ammunition and run away. I asked the GOC to cancel both orders and order a fighting withdrawal with the two brigades withdrawing through each other, the GOC cancelled both his previous orders and adopted my suggestion. My motive in making the suggestion was to recover my broken down tanks lying between Kharo Tar and Gabbar and asked the GOC for recovery assistance, he arranged for WAPDA tractors which towed back most of the tanks.

While driving to the divisional headquarters I found the divisional Supply and Transport Battalion vehicles abandoned on the track on which the division had advanced, I ordered my driver to check the state of a vehicle and found that radiators had been drained and when my driver got into the driving compartment the driver of the vehicle came running, he was hiding in a bush.

By the morning of 7 December 206 Brigade was firmly established on Kharo Tar, my Quartermaster, Captain Bhatti, kept us supplied with food “meethi roti” and water from Sadiqabad and when a cry went up that 206 Brigade units were running out of ammunition, I made my Dodge Power Wagons available and ammunition was brought from Sadiqabad.

38 Cavalry squadron left at Manthar because their engines could not be refitted when the division started its movement, moved into counter-penetration positions on the approaches to Rahimyar Khan.

The GOC had complained that he was having a communication problem with 51 Brigade since the beginning of the operation, I told him I would see what the problem was. I sent my command vehicle with my adjutant to 51 Brigade Headquarters to establish communications between the brigade and the division and when my command vehicle would move the communication would break; my signal JCO could not  find the reason;  after the ceasefire an NCO disclosed that the brigade had kept its wireless set meant to communicate with division headquarters, switched off.

On the night 8/9 December 206 Brigade withdrew from Kharo Tar through the position prepared by 51 Brigade, 38 Cavalry after firing all the HE ammunition destroyed its two broken down tanks and moved to Masitwari Bhit. On 9 December after taking over the front, Brigadier Tariq Mir reported that two enemy tank regiments were turning his flanks to cut off the brigade, 22 Cavalry was moved from Gabbar and were attacked by the IAF and lost another tank; the two Indian tank regiments were a figment of the brigade commander’s imagination.

A little distance from my regimental headquarters the divisional gun area was located, the IAF attacked gun area and my headquarters, a cannon shot made a hole in my leather jacket and a rocket hit the open cupola flap of my tank and broke the hinge. The gun area was defended with training guns of the Anti-Aircraft School which fired single shots but kept the IAF away.

On the night 11/12 December the remnants of 38 Cavalry withdrew to Gabbar, on the morning of 12 December when I with my second in command went to find out where the ‘forward defended localities’ were, I found Major General B. M. Mustafa standing there, someone whispered that the general had been sacked and Major General Abdul Hamid Khan was in command of 18 Division.

I met the general and asked his GSO 2 (Intelligence) where the FDLs were, the general heard me and indicating the GSO 2 and himself he said that they were the FDLs and there was nothing forward of them. Major General Abdul Hamid Khan, the new GOC, on assuming command the previous day ordered a ‘general withdrawal’, both brigades took off in the ‘Gabbar Gallop’ and some men were rounded up and brought back from the Punjab Regimental Centre at Mardan.

On the night 12/13 December I established my headquarters at Khenju and collected all my broken down tanks and started engine replacement. On 16 December ‘Tiger’ Niazi surrendered, two days later, to everyone’s surprise, we ceased fire.

After the operation ‘Labbaik’ ended in fiasco everyone claimed that they were not privy to the operation though 206 Brigade commander was removed from command for objecting to the operation.  The mission assigned to 18 Division was “Defend the area of responsibility in order to ensure the security of the main line of communications Karachi-Multan and be prepared to carry out the war into the enemy territory under favourable conditions.” This implied the guarding of 600 miles road and rail communications close to the border, 18 Division successfully carried out its mission. It was a classical spoiling attack which put the Indians off balance, the division’s mission was achieved.

If your allegations about the Gabbar gallop are true, why is it that no officer was taken to task?

Because the GOC Major General Abdul Hamid Khan did not allow the general withdrawal  to be disclosed to the Awan  Committee.

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